Turkmenistan joined the GIZ regional project “Trade Facilitation in Central Asia”
On March 11, 2024, Mr. Begench Gochmollayev, Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan and Mr. Joachim Fritz, the GIZ Country Director for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, in the presence of His Excellency Mr. Michael U. Bierhoff, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Germany to Turkmenistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan concerning the Regional Project ‘Trade Facilitation in Central Asia’ (TFCA) for the term of 2024-2026.
Commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Regional Project is implemented by GIZ in partnership with national ministries overseeing trade policy, customs, border control agencies, and private sector actors involved in trade in the Central Asian region. The primary objective is to develop regional approaches and knowledge, especially in digitalization, to facilitate cross-border trade along regional trade routes.
Mr. Gochmollayev reiterated the commitment of Turkmenistan to strengthening the regional trade cooperation.
H.E. Ambassador Michael U. Bierhoff emphasized the importance of intensifying ties in trade connectivity of Turkmenistan within the region and beyond during his statement.
Mr. Fritz noted that with this Memorandum of Understanding signed, Turkmenistan would now become the fifth country as a part of the regional project ‘Trade Facilitation in Central Asia’ which is in line with the increased interest of countries and their relevant stakeholders in further developing of the connectivity between Central Asia and Europe. Additionally, as a part of GIZ delegation mission on 11-13 March 2024, the parties deliberated on the practical execution of the Memorandum and mapped out subsequent steps crucial for achieving the agreed-upon objectives for 2024. These discussions included stakeholders such as representatives from the Transport and Communications Agency at the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan, the State Plant Quarantine Service, and members of the private sector.
As the TFCA Regional Project unfolds, the parties look forward to fostering collaborative initiatives that will contribute to the prosperity and growth of Central Asia's cross-border trade.
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