Ashgabat, August 29, 2025 – The Europe Today: Turkmenistan is rapidly modernizing its trade and customs systems by integrating advanced technologies and enhancing the training of national specialists, with support from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Trend reported on Friday, citing the organization.
UNCTAD stated that its cooperation with the country’s customs and border agencies includes the introduction of risk-based control mechanisms, a shift to electronic documentation and paperless processing, as well as the development of service standards and operational manuals.
The program aims to strengthen interagency coordination, align national regulations with international standards, and improve transparency in trade procedures. A key element of the initiative is the Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA).
As of August 2025, the program has entered its third phase — integrating advanced ASYCUDA solutions with extensive training for national specialists. This phase is designed to enable personnel to independently manage and further develop the system, fostering faster trade turnover, reduced costs, and more predictable procedures.
The initiative is considered a significant step toward Turkmenistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization and strengthening the country’s role as a regional transit hub.
ASYCUDA, a UNCTAD-developed customs software program, facilitates the automation of cargo clearance and trade operations. It streamlines declaration submission, transit control, and record-keeping while also generating essential data for economic statistics.
