On October 13, 2020, the meeting of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov with the Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Mukis Kituyi and the Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, Director of the Regional Bureau for Europe and the CIS Mirjana Spoljarich Egger was held via videoconference. The meeting was also attended by the UNDP Resident Representative ad interim in Turkmenistan Natia Natsvlishvili.
During the meeting, the parties highly appraised the strategic partnership of Turkmenistan with the United Nations and its specialized agencies, in particular the UNCTAD and UNDP. In this context, the significance of efficient partnership in the last five year was specifically highlighted, especially in the area of digital economy development, as well as the stable transport and trade field in Turkmenistan.
In this regard, it is vital to note that the collaboration of the parties is directed to the constructive and multifaceted implementation of the Concept for the Development of the Digital Economy in Turkmenistan for 2019-2025, the Program for the Development of Foreign Economic Activity of Turkmenistan for 2020-2025.
As is known, in collaboration with UNCTAD and in active participation of UNDP, today the integrated customs information system “ASYCUDA World” has been embedded and settled in the system of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan. This system will serve as the main platform for a stage by stage and efficient implementation of the “Single Window for Export-Import Operations” system in the finance sector of Turkmenistan, in particular in the banking, transport and other segments, including the Main State Service “Turkmenstandartlary” (Turkmen standards).
Upon the outcomes of the meeting, the parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations Development Program, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan on joint cooperation to promote the implementation of the “Single Window for Export-Import Operations” project in Turkmenistan.
This Memorandum will become the basis for the digitalization of trade and transport ties within the implementation of global and regional sustainable development strategies.
