UN host the National consultations on findings of the Readiness Assessment for Cross-border Paperless Trade in Turkmenistan

It was shared that according to ESCAP 2020 study, despite the progress achieved in the recent years in North and Central Asia, the subregion continues to suffer from high transport costs and low transport connectivity levels, shortages in the transport infrastructure coverage and operational weakness in freight transport operations.

The presenters also informed that the relatively low level of digitalization and facilitation of cross-border transport and trade operations add up to existing challenges. Benefits from the successful implementation of cross- border paperless trade are large. In this respect, the Framework Agreement on facilitation of cross-border paperless trade provides promising avenues for the parties to progress together.

“Based on this evidence UN Resident Coordinator’s Office facilitated a transport policy dialogue with the Government experts promoting digitalization of trade as one of the solutions. I am happy to acknowledge high level of evidence uptake for decision-making – in April 2022, the country adopted the Law on joining the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific”, noted Dmitry Shlapachenko, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan.

“…It would not be an exaggeration to say that almost all international trade today is facilitated and enabled by digital and communication technologies. In this sense, almost all international trade today is digitalized. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the urgency for governments and businesses to ramp up digitalization to better facilitate trade and to ensure smoother movement of goods, especially essential and critical goods. In this regard, accelerating the implementation of trade facilitation measures and digitalizing procedures is more crucial than ever to make trade more resilient and inclusive” noted Rupa Chanda, Director, Trade, Investment and Innovation Division, ESCAP.

Participants of the national consultation agreed to further exchange ideas of how to better implement the recommendations of the Readiness Assessment for Cross-border Paperless Trade in Turkmenistan report according to the proposed Action Plan.