A bilateral meeting was held in Brussels between Maksat Khudaýkulyyev, Chairman of the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan, and Ian Saunders, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO). Sapar Palvanov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Belgium, also participated in the talks, according to the Orient News Agency.
The parties noted that cooperation between Turkmenistan and the World Customs Organization has reached a new qualitative level over the past year. The Turkmen side expressed its gratitude to the WCO for its support in organizing an international conference in Ashgabat dedicated to the activities of customs training centers.
Particular attention during the meeting was paid to the digitalization of customs procedures and the training of customs personnel through the WCO Regional Training Centre in Turkmenistan. The parties positively assessed the results of joint educational programs implemented during 2025–2026. Within these programs, Turkmen customs officers received training in risk management, data analysis, release time measurement, and the digital transformation of customs processes.
The discussions also focused on further strengthening human resource capacity. The Turkmen side confirmed its readiness to send representatives to participate in the WCO Career Development Programme for 2026–2027, including short-term internships.
Ian Saunders highly praised the ongoing reforms in Turkmenistan's customs system and recalled his previous visit to the country, including a tour of the Turkmenbashi International Seaport, which he described as an important transport hub for the region. The WCO leadership reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the educational center in Ashgabat and promoting its best practices throughout the region.