Turkmenistan continues to transform its Caspian coastline into Eurasia's largest logistics hub. On March 3, a meeting with UNDP Resident Representative Narine Saakyan was held at the Turkmenbashi International Seaport to discuss new steps to digitalize and green the country's main seaport.

Maritime Single Window and Digital Upgrade. The central topic of the talks was the implementation of a centralized platform for collecting and exchanging electronic information necessary for vessel arrivals, stays, and departures at ports—the Maritime Single Window (MSW)—and the modernization of the Terminal Operations System (TOS). According to the UNDP Concept Note, these technologies will greatly simplify trade operations and expedite cargo transit, which is critical for the Trans-Caspian route. These initiatives are already being prepared for submission to the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan.

Digitalization goes hand in hand with ecology: the port already holds ISO-14001 certification and the international "Ecoport" status, but plans include even stricter compliance with global Green Port standards.

Record Growth and Domestic Shipbuilding. Modernization efforts are already bearing tangible fruit. By the end of 2025, the port's total cargo turnover had increased by 15.2%. Today, Turkmenbashi is a key link in the China-Europe and North-South corridors, linking the logistics chains of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan.

The transition to domestic shipbuilding has been a key factor in the industry's growth. The Balkan shipyard is currently one of the country's engineering centers: two dry cargo ships and a modern dredging vessel are under construction; plans for the immediate future include the construction of three more dry cargo ships and two Ro-Ro ferries.

Cooperation with leading shipbuilding companies from the Republic of Korea allows Turkmenistan to introduce world-class know-how. Thus, the country is making a historic transition from purchasing foreign vessels to building a powerful national fleet of its own production.

Today, the Turkmenbashi port is more than just a dot on the map, but a high-tech hub where environmental responsibility and digital excellence create the foundation for global competition.