In the office of a foreign trade company in Ashgabat, customs broker Maria is frowning at the screen. In the past, in order to verify the codes and tax rates of a batch of textiles that were about to be sent to China, she had to search through thick paper catalogs and call multiple departments to confirm the license documents. However, today she only needs to enter the product name on the "Import and Export Business Single Window" portal website, and after a few seconds, the accurate product code, estimated tariffs, and required document list will be clearly presented in front of her. The difficult clearance problem that had troubled her for a long time was easily resolved by a newly launched feature.

Starting from June 1, 2026, the State Customs Administration of Turkmenistan will officially launch artificial intelligence technology on its official website. This project, jointly promoted by the State Customs Administration of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, aims to make cross-border trade as convenient as online shopping through digital means.

Intelligent classification results in seconds

The core function of the new system lies in its powerful data processing capability. In the past, companies needed to manually search for codes by comparing them with the Catalogue of Classification of Goods for Foreign Economic Activities, which was time-consuming and prone to errors. Nowadays, relying on AI algorithms, the system can automatically match the most accurate product code based on the product name entered by the user. At the same time, it can intelligently predict various license documents required based on product attributes, and provide rough estimates of tariff rates, allowing companies to have a clear idea before shipping.

Seamless switching of three languages

Considering the diversity of international trade, this artificial intelligence assistant supports services in three languages: Turkmen, Russian, and English. This measure greatly reduces the language barrier, allowing both local businessmen and international partners like China to use the system for customs clearance preparation without barriers. This humanized design reflects Turkmenistan's determination to build an open economy.

Smart Customs Connecting the World

The landing of AI technology this time is an important step for Turkmenistan to build a "smart customs". As an upgraded version of the "single window" system, the platform has previously integrated services from 24 ministries and agencies together. With the accession of AI, Turkmenistan has not only improved its digital governance level, but also provided a solid technical guarantee for further deepening regional connectivity under the the Belt and Road Initiative, bringing tangible convenience to global trading partners, including China.Editor/Yang Meiling