The State Customs Service of Turkmenistan is integrating global initiatives of the World Customs Organization (WCO) into its operations, including scaling up the educational programs of the Regional Training Centers and implementing the Central Asia and Caucasus Security Project (CCASP).
The participation of the Turkmenistan delegation in the final regional seminar of the CCASP project, held in Tokyo, allowed for the comparison of national experience with best practices in Japanese customs control. The three-day program focused on combating the illicit movement of specific cargo categories—small arms, light weapons, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The Turkmen side presented the results of the agency's digital transformation. The focus was on the work of the Control and Analytical Center, which operates using automated risk analysis. This approach minimizes customs clearance time without compromising the efficiency of inspections. The updated technical capabilities of border posts were also demonstrated: the latest-generation inspection and screening systems, continuous video surveillance, and radiation monitoring systems.
In parallel with operational activities, the agency is developing the capacity of its Training Center, which was officially granted the status of a WCO Regional Training Center (RTC) in June 2025. During a recent videoconference with colleagues from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, representatives of Turkmenistan discussed mechanisms for analyzing training needs and developing programs for 2026.
Direct cooperation between the regional RTCs is aimed at creating a unified system for training specialists capable of working in the rapidly changing international trade environment. A key step in this process will be a specialized meeting in Ashgabat, scheduled for April 29–30. The roundtable format will allow for the consolidation of agreements reached and the development of a common training strategy within the WCO European Region.
The synchronization of educational initiatives with practical security seminars (from Astana and Baku to Tokyo) demonstrates a systematic approach. The State Customs Service of Turkmenistan is not only implementing modern technical control tools but also laying the foundation for their effective operation through certified international training programs.
