At the recent meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Russian Commission on Economic Cooperation, a meeting between heads of customs services took place, marking a significant breakthrough in bilateral cooperation.

During the talks between the Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan and the Deputy Head of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation, Sergey Vladimirovich Shklyaev, the current state and strategic prospects for cooperation in the customs sphere were discussed.

A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of an Agreement between the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation and the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan on the establishment of a simplified procedure for customs operations involving the movement of goods and vehicles.

This agreement, known as the ‘Simplified Customs Corridor’, aims to create favorable conditions for mutual trade, significantly expedite customs procedures and improve the overall efficiency of customs administration.

This mechanism will minimize the time it takes for cargo to cross the border, which is critical for the development of the International ‘North-South’ Transport Corridor, in which both countries play a key role.

In addition to signing the agreement, the parties discussed a number of important areas for further cooperation. The focus was on the digitalization of customs procedures, which will enable the implementation of advanced electronic technologies for cargo control and clearance.

Particular attention was given to personnel training and the exchange of specialists, which contributes to the unification of approaches and the enhancement of the professionalism of employees of both services. The dialogue also covered the coordination of actions in international formats, including cooperation under the auspices of the World Customs Organization and within the CIS, confirming the commitment of Turkmenistan and Russia to harmonize their customs regulations with international standards.

The successful completion of the negotiations and the signing of the agreement demonstrate the consistent strengthening of the strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and the Russian Federation in foreign trade and logistics.