Turkmenistan continues to develop the Caspian coast as a major logistics hub for Eurasia. On 3 March, a meeting was held in the port of Turkmenbashi with UNDP Permanent Representative Narine Sahakyan to discuss projects on digitalisation and environmental development of the port, according to the Orient news agency.

The main focus was on the implementation of the Maritime Single Window (MSW) system and the modernisation of the Terminal Operating System (TOS). These solutions should simplify data exchange between services, speed up ship processing and increase the efficiency of cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian route. The initiatives are planned to be submitted for consideration by the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan.

At the same time, the environmental modernisation of the port continues. It already has ISO-14001 certification and ‘Eco-port’ status, and in the future, it plans to comply with the international ‘Green Port’ standards.

The modernisation is already yielding results: in 2025, the port's cargo turnover grew by 15.2%. Turkmenbashi plays an important role in the ‘China-Europe’ and ‘North-South’ transport corridors, connecting the logistics routes of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Uzbekistan.

An additional factor in its development has been the creation of its own shipbuilding industry. Two dry cargo ships and a dredger are being built at the ‘Balkan’ shipyard, with plans for three more dry cargo ships and two Ro-Ro ferries. Cooperation with South Korean companies is enabling the introduction of modern technologies and the formation of a national merchant fleet.