BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 29. Turkmenistan and the
World Customs Organization (WCO) discussed customs modernization
and regional training cooperation on the sidelines of the 147th and
148th sessions of the WCO Council held in Brussels.
This was reported by the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium
following a meeting between Head of the State Customs Service
Maksat Hudaykulyyev and WCO Secretary General Ian Saunders. The
talks took place on the sidelines of the 147th and 148th sessions
of the WCO Council.
According to the embassy, Hudaykulyyev outlined reforms to
modernize customs infrastructure, upgrade border checkpoints, and
introduce advanced customs administration practices.
He added that "Turkmenistan attaches great importance to human
resource development in the customs sphere and stands ready to host
regional WCO training activities at the Centre, as the Turkmen side
has valuable practical experience to share with its partners."
According to the press release, the sides also discussed the
work of the WCO Regional Training Centre in Turkmenistan, which
provides professional training for customs officers and supports
capacity-building across the region.
Moreover, in the course of the meeting, Saunders welcomed the
progress of Turkmenistan's customs reforms. He also reaffirmed the
WCO's readiness to continue supporting the operation of the
regional training center.
Meanwhile, cooperation between Turkmenistan and the World
Customs Organization (WCO) has intensified in recent years, with a
growing focus on customs modernization, digitalization, and
professional training. A major milestone came in 2025, when the WCO
granted regional status to the Training Centre of the State Customs
Service of Turkmenistan, integrating it into the organization's
global network for customs capacity-building. Since then, the two
sides have expanded cooperation through regional training programs,
technical assistance, and initiatives aimed at aligning
Turkmenistan's customs administration with international
standards.
