Turkmenistan promotes freight transport growth via Caspian Sea ports

Baku, The Gulf Observer: During the 18th meeting of the SPECA Board of Directors, Turkmenistan’s Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy, Begmyrat Allakbayev highlighted the importance of developing a contemporary multimodal communication system to facilitate cargo transportation across Central Asia via the Caspian Sea ports, the Azerbaijani news agency reported on Thursday.

Deputy Minister Begmyrat Allakbayev, in his speech, placed significant emphasis on the role of digitalization in easing trade and transit procedures. He highlighted the importance of collaboration among SPECA countries and international organisations, explicitly mentioning the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The Deputy Minister’s remarks underscored the value of leveraging digital technologies and fostering cooperation to enhance regional trade and economic activities.

Additionally, Deputy Minister Begmyrat Allakbayev emphasized successfully executing the Concept of Development of the Digital Economy of Turkmenistan from 2019 to 2025.

He stated that there are currently agreements between SPECA countries for the mutual exchange of data on transported goods, primarily through bilateral arrangements. As Begmyrat Allakbayev highlighted, these agreements play a significant role in simplifying customs procedures.

The deputy minister further commented that they have already established relations with Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan. They have also laid down the necessary legal foundation for cooperation with Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, and currently, negotiations are underway with the Kyrgyz side regarding the regulatory framework.

Established in 1998, SPECA promotes cooperation between states and supports their integration into the global economy. The participating states in the programme are Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Azerbaijan.