BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 12. Malaysia and
Turkmenistan have discussed prospects for strengthening customs
cooperation and facilitating bilateral trade.


This was announced by the Royal Malaysian Customs Department
(RMCD) in a statement published on June 10 following a courtesy
visit by Turkmenistan's Ambassador to Malaysia, Muhammetnazar
Mashalov, to Director-General of Customs Dato' Haji Amran bin Haji
Ahmad at the RMCD headquarters in Putrajaya.


"The Royal Malaysian Customs Department (RMCD) has received a
courtesy call from H.E. Mr. Muhammetnyyaz Mashalov, Ambassador of
Turkmenistan to Malaysia, to YBhg. Dato’ Haji Amran bin Haji Ahmad,
Director General of Customs at the RMCD Headquarters, Putrajaya,"
the statement says.


According to the RMCD, the discussions covered trade
facilitation, the simplification of customs procedures and efforts
to further strengthen relations between the countries.


The department said that Amran welcomed the initiative and
reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to expanding cooperation with
Turkmenistan.


"RMCD will continue to strengthen cooperative relations with
Turkmenistan on a mutually beneficial basis, particularly in the
areas of trade and customs administration," the statement says.







The department also noted that the visit reflects its continued
commitment to expanding international cooperation networks and
enhancing strategic relations with customs partners and foreign
agencies to improve the efficiency of global trade
facilitation.


Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has announced
plans to visit Turkmenistan in mid-June to sign an agreement
expected to provide PETRONAS with access to one of the world’s
largest natural gas fields, the press office of the Malaysian PM
says in its press-release published on June 7.


For reference, PETRONAS has maintained a presence in
Turkmenistan since July 1996, when it became the first foreign
company to sign a production-sharing agreement (PSA) for offshore
Block I in the Turkmen sector of the Caspian Sea. The block
includes the Magtymguly, Diyarbekir, and Garagol-Deniz fields and
remains one of the country’s key offshore energy assets. This year
also marked two decades of cooperation between Turkmenistan and
PETRONAS in the gas processing sector.


In May 2025, PETRONAS signed a new long-term agreement for Block
I, extending its operations in Turkmenistan through 2050. Under the
updated arrangement, the offshore project currently produces around
400 million cubic feet of natural gas per day and has access to
more than 7 trillion cubic feet of gas resources.