Turkmenistan continues its transformation to turn the Caspian coast into one of Eurasia's largest logistics hubs. On March 3, a meeting was held at the Turkmenbashy International Seaport with Narine Sahakyan, the UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan, to discuss new steps for the digitalization and ecological modernization of the country's primary seaport.

Maritime "Single Window" and Digital Innovation The main topic of discussion was the implementation of the Maritime Single Window (MSW) system—a centralized platform for collecting and exchanging electronic data required for the arrival, stay, and departure of ships—as well as the modernization of the Terminal Operating System (TOS). According to the UNDP conceptual note, these technologies will significantly simplify trade operations and accelerate cargo transit, which is vital for the efficiency of the Trans-Caspian route. These initiatives are currently being prepared for submission to the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan.

Digitalization is closely linked with ecology: the port already holds the ISO-14001 certificate and international "Ecoport" status, with future plans to strictly align with global Green Port standards.

Record Growth and National Shipbuilding Modernization efforts are already yielding results: by the end of 2025, the port's total cargo turnover increased by 15.2%. Currently, Turkmenbashy Port serves as a crucial link in the "China — Europe" and "North — South" transport corridors, connecting logistics chains from Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan.

A key factor in the industry's growth is the shift toward national shipbuilding. The Balkan shipyard has become a vital center for the country's engineering capabilities. Currently, two dry cargo ships and a modern dredger are under construction; future plans include building three more dry cargo ships and two Ro-Ro ferries. Cooperation with leading shipbuilding companies from the Republic of Korea allows Turkmenistan to adopt world-class "know-how," marking a historic transition from purchasing foreign vessels to creating a powerful national maritime infrastructure.