From July 8 to July 12, 2024 the State Customs Service of Turkmenistan hosted seminar a seminar on the Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) program with the assistance of the World Customs Organization (WCO). The seminar was attended by the involved in the process of implementing the AEO program representatives of the State Customs Service, as well as the Union of Entrepreneurs and Industrialists of Turkmenistan.

The mission was co-facilitated by Gaetano SASSONE, WCO AEO Technical and Operational Advisor from the Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency and Dongsuk KIM, WCO AEO Technical and Operational Advisor from the Korea Customs Service.

The purpose of this technical assistance mission is to support the Customs Service of Turkmenistan in the area of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) Programme implementation.

Sessions during the five-day workshop covered various topics, including the WCO SAFE Framework of Standards, implementation of the AEO program in Turkmenistan, validation guidance, Mutual Recognition Agreements, training and capacity building for staff in this area. Based on the results obtained through fruitful discussions, the experts presented their recommendations for more effectively promoting the AEO program in the country.

The mission provided representatives of the State Customs Service and the Union of Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan with a valuable opportunity to increase their capacity in the AEO program and its implementation in Turkmenistan. This WCO technical support was provided with funding from the WCO Customs Cooperation Fund - China