Russian expert conducted a training session on strengthening trade potential in Ashgabat

Trade digitalization is an important tool to reduce trade costs, enhance trade efficiency and transparency, as well as support trade resilience and inclusion.

UNDP Turkmenistan hired a Russian consultant to support the Ministryof Trade and Foreign Economic Relations of Turkmenistan in digital transformation and enhance knowledge and skills of Ministry staff on issues related to using digital solutions for trade development in a competitive environment.

On May 22-24, 2024, the Russian expert conducted a series of training sessionson a wide range of topics related to the digitalization of trade in the context of national and global competitiveness. The training program focused on the international legal foundations of paperless trade, strategies for removing barriers to cross-border paperless trade, and the "single window" mechanism to enhance the efficiency of information exchange between trading companies and government authorities. The expert also presented advanced digital projects in the field of foreign economic activity.

"The Ministry employees benefitted from training withthe knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the constantly changing landscape of international trade," noted the Russian expert who conducted the training. "We broached the subjectof the WTO’s role in regulating trade, balancing trade liberalization with important state objectives, and addressing protectionism within the framework of multilateral economic cooperation."

The expert’s recommendations and trainingmaterials will support the Ministry in introducing the best international practices in the field of digitalization for trade facilitation.

The assignmentof the Russian expert was implemented with the financial support of the Russian Federation within the framework of the project "Knowledge Management and Capacity Development in the UNDP-Russia Partnership".