The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has invited Turkmenistan to participate in the second phase of the Integrated Trade Agenda through 2030, implemented under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program. The initiative has already been approved by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, according to Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During a Cabinet of Ministers meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Khojamyrat Geldimyradov outlined the key objectives of the ADB proposal. The priority areas include increasing intra-regional trade, digitizing logistics, and promoting environmentally sustainable trade practices.
Ashgabat intends to focus on two core components:
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Trade Policy – enhancing legislation and regulatory frameworks;
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Trade Facilitation – reducing bureaucratic barriers, implementing digital cargo processing systems, and modernizing infrastructure.
President Berdimuhamedov emphasized Turkmenistan’s readiness to engage more actively in international economic initiatives and instructed the government to ensure proper coordination in implementing the ADB-supported proposal.
Launched in 2001, the CAREC Program currently brings together 11 countries across Central and East Asia, including Turkmenistan. The first phase of the Integrated Trade Agenda concluded in 2023, having supported over 50 trade and customs reforms, including the development of trade corridors and single-window systems for import and export. Total investments under the CAREC framework have exceeded USD 40 billion.
Why This Matters for Turkmenistan
Participation in the program offers several strategic benefits for Turkmenistan, including:
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Enhancing the country’s transit potential;
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Introducing digital trade technologies;
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Preparing infrastructure for new transport corridors, such as the East–West route via the Caspian Sea.
This marks a step toward greater economic openness for Turkmenistan — a country that has traditionally remained on the sidelines of regional economic integration. Now, it appears Ashgabat is choosing to align with the changing regional dynamics.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
July 7, 2025