A stable trend in the international relations of Turkmenistan with the countries of the world in the period of the Revival of the New Era of the Powerful State has been the expansion of transit corridor routes and, as a result, the development of integration processes. In this context, respected President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, at an extended sitting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan, which took place on February 9 of the current year, focusing on the priority tasks for the further development of the industry, instructed to continue work to expand cargo transportation routes and to fully use the potential of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Turkmen Logistics Association and the Turkmenbashi International Seaport and a joint action plan for 2024 is aimed at implementing the tasks set by the head of state. The documents provide for the implementation of joint measures to inform the international partners of the Turkmen Logistics Association of the technical and technological potential of the Port, benefits and opportunities, created at the Port, and to attract foreign carriers. Thus, this will make it possible to strengthen public-private partnerships to develop the potential of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport and the associated transport and logistics sector.
Within the framework of the signed documents, on February 14, 2024, experts from the transport industry of Central Asian countries and representatives of transport regional associations met at a virtual round table. The topic of discussion was strengthening the role of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport as a transit hub for Central Asian exports. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of the services provided by the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, to increase transit traffic through the Turkmenbashi International Seaport and to familiarise participants with alternative cargo transportation routes, which would expand trade relations of Central Asian states in the direction of other countries.
A representative of the Port made a detailed presentation of the Port’s infrastructure and informed of tariffs for services. As it was emphasised in the speech, the Turkmenbashi Port was open to constructive and interested partnerships with exporters and shippers from all countries of Central Asia and offered a flexible tariff policy and state-of-the-art services in terms of the existing infrastructure.
Specialists from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in their speeches noted the role of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport in Eurasian transport connections. In particular, they discussed the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor, the TRACECA and CASCA+ corridors based on the international multimodal route Countries of the Asia-Pacific–China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Azerbaijan–Georgia–Türkiye–Europe.
Participants from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan expressed their intention to develop a transport route from China through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan with access to the Turkmenbashi Port and further north to Russia. It was noted that new transport schemes were emerging in parallel, for example, the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway corridor. According to the Uzbek party, by joining forces, the Central Asian countries can jointly implement the idea of this corridor, which will undoubtedly give an impetus to the development of cargo transportation through the Turkmenbashi International Seaport.
During the event, practical issues of transportation through the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, including transportation schedules and rates, forwarding services, transit procedures and other aspects, were also discussed.
On February 15 of the current year, the Turkmen Logistics Association, together with the International Coordinating Council on Trans-Eurasian Transportation (CCTT), organised a webinar entitled “New vectors of the development of Eurasian multimodal transport”. The event was attended by about 60 heads of government agencies and top managers of private transport companies from 25 countries, including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Korea, Germany and Mongolia. In it, about 30 representatives of Turkmenistan participated, including the Türkmendeňizderýaýollary Agency, the Turkmenbashi International Seaport and transport and logistics companies – members of the Turkmen Logistics Association.
The first workshop was devoted to the prospects for transporting goods through the territory of Turkmenistan and Iran along the North–South International Transport Corridor through the International Seaport of Turkmenbashi. During the second workshop, participants revealed the role of the Port as the most important link on trans-Eurasian transport routes. In this regard, transport and logistics companies, members of the Turkmen Logistics Association, presented their services and potential capabilities.
Thanks to dialogue platforms such as these round table and webinar, new vectors are opening up for the effective use of the transport and transit potential of Turkmenistan and, in particular, the Turkmenbashi International Seaport.
Plans for further joint events of the Turkmen Logistics Association and the Turkmenbashi International Seaport include holding conferences, business forums and other events devoted to the transit capabilities of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport. These events are expected to involve the heads of large transport and logistics organisations and enterprises from the countries of Central Asia, the Russian Federation, China, Georgia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, India, Iran and the Republic of Korea. It is also planned to organise visits for interested representatives of international companies and Turkmen carriers to familiarise themselves with the Port’s infrastructure and the services offered to carriers.
The strategic partnership between the Turkmen Logistics Association and the Turkmenbashi International Seaport promises to open a new stage for the development of the transport and transit sector of Turkmenistan.