Workshop in Ashgabat Focus on Building Turkmenistan’s E-Commerce Roadmap

On 13–14 May 2025, the International Trade Centre (ITC), in collaboration with national partners, conducted a workshop aimed at strengthening the e-commerce policy environment in Turkmenistan. The events took place under the EU-funded project “Turkmenistan: Enhancing Trade Resilience and Integration.”

The first day of the seminar, held on May 13, was attended by representatives of government agencies, including the Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, the Ministry of Finance and Economics, the State Customs Service, the Central Bank and the State Postal Company “Turkmenpochta”.  This session was devoted to international best practices and the legislative framework in the field of digital commerce. Experts from the ITC and the UNCITRAL (UN Commission on International Trade Law) spoke about international recommendations and best practices in the field of electronic commerce regulation, including paperless trading, electronic payments, data protection and digital trust services. The preliminary results of mapping the e-commerce sector in Turkmenistan were also reviewed and supplemented.

On the second day of the seminar, ITC staff and experts met with representatives of the private sector and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan. The participants discussed practical aspects of digital commerce and e-commerce. This meeting was more practical in nature, intensive discussions and also served as a source of important information for mapping the e-commerce sector in Turkmenistan. Particular attention was paid to the expansion of business participation in the development of legislation and other regulatory documents as the ultimate beneficiary of this process. Raising awareness of the national business community about global trends in e-commerce was also an important goal of this workshop.

This workshop facilitated a dialogue between public and private entities on creating a balanced and modern digital trading environment. While representatives of government agencies focused on ensuring continuity of international information security and consumer protection experience and regulatory procedures, as well as institutional interaction, the private sector voiced its priorities in transparency of legislation and administrative regulations, and practical application. The discussions highlighted the importance of an integrated approach that combines an effective legal framework, modern digital solutions and a reliable financial infrastructure for the benefit of both producers and consumers.

The workshop became an important stage in the framework of ITC technical support for Turkmenistan in developing the potential of electronic commerce in Turkmenistan, as well as in the context of the country’s preparations for WTO accession. Through inclusive dialogue and exchange of opinions, this initiative helps to increase the country’s readiness to integrate into the global digital economy and expand participation in international trade.

About the Project

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is implementing a four-year technical assistance project “Turkmenistan: Enhancing Trade Resilience and Integration”, funded by the European Union (EU). The project aims to contribute to Turkmenistan’s economic development and strengthen trade relations between the EU and Turkmenistan. This will be achieved by enhancing trade competitiveness through improvements in the business climate and by supporting Turkmenistan’s participation in regional and global trade. ///nCa, 21 May 2025 (in cooperation with ITC)

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