At the extended meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan on Friday, modernization and strengthening of the material and technical base of all types of transport, expansion of transit corridor routes, increasing the volume and quality of passenger and cargo transportation, and expanding the range of services provided were named among the priority tasks for the further development of the transport complex. In this context, it was instructed, in particular, to fully utilize the potential of the international seaport of Turkmenbashy, which is the goal of the Memorandum of Understanding and the Joint Action Plan for 2024 signed recently by the «Turkmen Logistics» Association and the international seaport of Turkmenbashy.
The Memorandum identifies key areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening the position of the Turkmen port in the global transport and logistics system, and the Plan contains specific steps for their implementation. The parties agreed on a number of joint measures to inform the international partners of the «Turkmen Logistics» Association about the technical and technological potential of the port, benefits and opportunities created at the port to attract foreign carriers.
As part of cooperation, the «Turkmen Logistics» Association and the international seaport of Turkmenbashy agreed to regularly exchange experience and conduct consultations with transport and logistics enterprises that are members of the Association in order to create favourable conditions for Turkmen cargo carriers. It is also planned to organize online training for employees of the Turkmenbashy seaport with the participation of international experts. All this will allow us to combine the efforts of the public and private sectors to effectively ensure cargo flows through the port.
The plan of joint events provides for holding conferences, business forums, webinars and round tables on the transit capabilities of the Turkmenbashy International Seaport. These events will be attended by heads of large transport and logistics organizations and enterprises from Central Asia, the Russian Federation, China, Georgia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, India, Iran and South Korea. It is also planned to organize study visits for interested representatives of international companies and Turkmen carriers to cargo terminals and other infrastructure facilities of the port.
One of the first events is scheduled for the 14th of February this year. A round table on the topic: «The role of the Turkmenbashy International Seaport as a transit hub for Central Asian exports» will be organized online by the «Turkmen Logistics» Association and the Representative Office of the UK Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics in Central Asia (CILT Central Asia) with the support of the USAID Program on trade in Central Asia. It is expected that the event will be attended by representatives of transport and logistics departments, organizations and companies from Central Asian countries, as well as representatives of international organizations. The round table program consists of a discussion of practical aspects of transportation, including issues of transportation through the Turkmenbashy International Seaport, transportation schedules and rates, forwarding and logistics services, paperwork, and issues of transit procedures.
The signing of the Memorandum and Plan of Joint Actions opens up new prospects for the development of the transport and logistics sector of Turkmenistan and strengthening its position in the international arena. Combining the efforts of the «Turkmen Logistics» Association and the international seaport of Turkmenbashy will help raise awareness of the potential of the Turkmen port, which is an important link in international transport routes, attract investment and increase the volume of cargo transportation, and therefore the economic growth and prosperity of the country.
