TIF and UNCTAD Discussed Cooperation on Customs Digitalization and Transit Systems

On 16 December 2025, Mr. Reza Mohammadi, Central Asia and Afghanistan Coordinator at the UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), visited the headquarters of the Turkic Investment Fund (TIF) to exchange views on possible cooperation under the UNCTAD’s Automated System for Customs Data (ASYCUDA) Programme. The discussion focused on customs digitalization and practical ways to modernize and streamline trade procedures across the Turkic countries.

The meeting was built on the understanding reached between H.E. Baghdad Amreyev, President of TIF, and H.E. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary General of UNCTAD, during their meeting on 15 October 2025, where they expressed a shared interest in strengthening cooperation, and it was organized in close coordination with Mr. Dmitry Godunov, UNCTAD ASYCUDA Regional Coordinator for Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.

Mr. Ramil Babayev, General Director of TIF, received Mr. Mohammadi together with Mr. Sanjar Usmanov, Chief Investment Officer; Mr. Erhan Türbedar, Senior Advisor for Economic Affairs; Mr. Mirlan Shatmanov, Risk Manager; and Mr. Esat Mert, Director of International Relations and Capital Mobilization.

During the meeting, Mr. Babayev outlined TIF’s mandate to support economic integration across the Turkic world. He spoke about the Fund’s focus on investments in digital connectivity, support for SMEs, and trade facilitation initiatives. He noted TIF’s interest in partnering with UNCTAD on customs modernization, trade facilitation, and Middle Corridor connectivity across member states and partner countries.

Mr. Mohammadi briefed on UNCTAD’s experience with customs digitalization, national transit systems, and trade facilitation projects in Central Asia and other regions. He described ongoing work under ASYCUDA and reflected on the potential for a transit system framework that could ease border bottlenecks, align procedures, and support predictable, rules-based trade across the region.

The meeting concluded with a shared understanding to advance the dialogue, shape a cooperation framework, and lay the groundwork for a systematic partnership between TIF and UNCTAD’s ASYCUDA Programme.