A training seminar on Turkmenistan's accession to the World Trade Organization and its impact on the private sector was held in Ashgabat on October 21–22, Turkmenportal.com reported.
The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan jointly with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Representatives of government agencies, the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Turkmenistan, and international experts, including specialists from Kazakhstan, participated in the event.
The participants focused on the adaptation of Turkmen enterprises to international trade conditions, the harmonization of national quality standards, and the protection of the interests of domestic producers. Representatives of the Ministry of Finance and ADB emphasized that dialogue with businesses is essential for identifying priorities in the upcoming WTO negotiations.
For Turkmenistan, institutional preparation for WTO membership is a strategic step toward diversifying the national economy and gradually moving away from over-dependence on hydrocarbon exports. Integration into the multilateral trading system will create conditions for attracting foreign direct investment in the non-oil sectors.
This process will open access to new foreign markets for Turkmen private businesses, but will also require a significant increase in competitiveness and the technical re-equipment of production facilities. Kazakhstan's experience, presented at the seminar, demonstrates that the timely development of adaptation measures can minimize risks for domestic entrepreneurs when opening the domestic market.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
October 22, 2026