On 13 August 2025, the World Customs Organization (WCO) underscored the central role of Customs in boosting trade and connectivity for Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) during the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in Awaza, Turkmenistan – a landmark event aiming to address the unique challenges faced by the world’s 32 LLDCs.
The WCO was represented by the Secretary General (SG), who participated in several panel discussions and held talks with UN and Customs officials.
With all 32 LLDCs among the WCO’s 186 members, the WCO SG used the platform to advocate for harmonised and efficient Customs procedures as a foundation for economic integration and sustainable growth. LLDCs face trade costs roughly 30% higher than their coastal counterparts, a disparity driven by multiple land borders, underdeveloped infrastructure, and inconsistent clearance procedures. The WCO’s technical support to LLDCs is extensive: in 2024 alone, 133 capacity-building activities targeted customs modernisation, coordinated border management, and digital transformation – over 75% tailored to individual national contexts.
Sharing a message of sustained commitment and strong partnerships
In remarks to the LLDC3 Private Sector Forum, the WCO SG emphasised that, while modern transport infrastructure was vital, it must be paired with coherent policies, standardised processes, investment in capacity, and digital tools. He highlighted the importance of leveraging norms and recognised practices such as those provided by the Revised Kyoto Convention, the WCO Data Model, and the Transit Guidelines, all vital enabling tools for efficient management of trade flows.
Speaking at the high-level roundtable on Seizing the Transformative Potential of Trade, Trade Facilitation, and Regional Integration, the WCO SG underscored that Customs, positioned at the heart of every cross-border transaction, was an enabler of connectivity rather than a technical gatekeeper. He called for digitalisation, regional integration, and strong partnerships to help LLDCs turn geographic constraints into trade opportunities. During his remarks, he pointed to active examples such as West Africa’s SIGMAT system and East Africa’s Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System to illustrate how coordinated, technology-driven solutions can dramatically reduce transit times and improve supply chain security.
The WCO SG also moderated a panel on deepening regional integration through trade facilitation during the Ministerial Meeting on South-South Cooperation. Setting the scene for the session, Mr Saunders stressed that no LLDC could overcome its challenges alone, and that South-South cooperation was a powerful mechanism for peer learning and for finding practical solutions to bottlenecks and inefficiencies at borders. The WCO SG noted that, for regional integration to really deliver results in terms of reducing trade costs, enhancing export competitiveness, and unlocking sustainable development, countries must tackle border administration challenges head-on.
Bilaterals and visit to Port of Turkmenbashi
Meeting with the chairman of the State Revenue Service of Turkmenistan, allowed for targeted discussions on strengthening Customs-to-Customs cooperation and exploring opportunities for applying WCO tools at the national level. A visit to the Port of Turkmenbashi, a major transit hub linking western China, Central Asia and Europe, provided an on-the-ground view of Customs operations for different modes of transport.
Throughout the week, the WCO consistently promoted the message that Customs reform is a tangible driver of economic opportunity. WCO technical expertise, operational tools, and convening power make it a key partner for LLDCs aiming to review their regulations and processes, align with international standards, and build the digital and institutional infrastructure necessary for predictable, cost-effective trade.
As the Awaza Programme of Action 2024–2034 is rolled out, the WCO stands ready to continue working with LLDCs, their transit partners, and the wider international community to ensure that “landlocked” does not mean “locked out” of global opportunity.