Ashgabat, August 15, 2026 — The Europe Today: The International Sea Ports of Turkmenbashy and Alat hosted a joint practical training on information exchange in maritime transport from August 11 to 13, bringing together members of Port Control Units from Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.
The training was organized by the UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia under the framework of the joint United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and World Customs Organization (WCO) Global Container Control Programme.
The initiative focused on promoting international cargo turnover across the Caspian Sea, combating illicit trade and reducing associated risks. It also sought to enhance the professional qualifications of specialists, strengthen operational information-sharing capabilities and deepen direct cooperation between the Turkmenbashy and Alat port facilities.
Led by WCO experts, the training commenced on August 11 in Turkmenistan before continuing aboard a vessel during its crossing of the Caspian Sea. The programme concluded on August 13 at Azerbaijan’s Port of Alat.
During the practical sessions, participants exchanged experience and best practices through hands-on exercises involving the analysis of shipping documentation and joint customs inspections of cargo and transport units.
The training provided an important platform for strengthening regional cooperation among port control authorities and enhancing the effectiveness of information exchange and customs controls along the Caspian Sea transport route.
