The State Customs Service of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) have launched the third phase of a joint initiative to digitalize Turkmenistan’s customs system and lay the foundation for the functioning of a "smart customs" system in the country.

The corresponding document was signed during the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, held at the “Avaza” National Tourist Zone. The signatures were affixed by the Chairman of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan and the Secretary-General of UNCTAD. The document envisions the implementation of modern information technologies, automation of key processes, and improvement of transparency and efficiency in customs administration.

The implementation of the initiative will contribute to simplifying foreign economic activity procedures and enhancing Turkmenistan’s investment attractiveness. During the meeting, the parties discussed the current level of cooperation and reaffirmed their commitment to further develop collaboration in the digitalization of customs procedures. UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan highly praised Turkmenistan’s efforts in digital transformation and emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between UNCTAD and the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan. Expressing gratitude to the international organization for its ongoing support, the Chairman of the State Customs Service stressed that the implementation of the third phase of the project would be an important milestone on the path toward creating a high-tech, modern customs system in Turkmenistan.