Turkmenistan Joins Central Asia-China Digital Customs Ecosystem Project
A delegation from the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan participated in the inaugural meeting of the relevant working group, held from September 15 to 17, 2026, alongside a customs forum in the People's Republic of China. The meeting brought together customs officials from China, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan to discuss the creation of a fundamentally new digital control ecosystem based on artificial intelligence, smart data analytics, and advanced risk management algorithms.
The primary practical outcome of the talks was the agreement on a draft "Cooperation Procedure" for the rapid exchange of data among the region's agencies. This strategic mechanism—scheduled for signing at the Third China-Central Asia Summit in 2027—aims to drastically accelerate cross-border cargo movement, enhance inspection accuracy, and ensure maximum transparency across trade routes.
As a first practical step, the parties agreed to explore the launch of a pilot information exchange, and Kazakhstan will host the next meeting of the Working Group. Participation by the Turkmen side made it possible to examine global best practices firsthand and formulate a set of concrete initiatives for the further technological modernization of the national customs system.
