Includes typical use of agents and distributors and how to find a good partner, e.g., whether use of an agent or distributor is legally required.
Last Published: 7/21/2019

The procurement of equipment, spare parts, and consumables for Turkmenistan’s major industries, such as oil and gas, power generation, railway, air transportation, and telecommunications is state controlled. However, the government does not have a centralized procurement and distribution agency. Individual ministries and state companies procure their needs via a tender process. Announcements are made in the local press in the Russian and Turkmen languages, as well as on some websites. Agencies in the state-controlled oil and gas sector post tenders (in Russian) on the Internet at http://www.oilgas.gov.tm/en/.

Producers of heavy equipment sell their goods in Turkmenistan by establishing an office or through a locally established distributor. Most local distributors provide some repair and maintenance services. Pharmaceuticals, food items, and consumer goods are sold mostly through quasi-private and public channels; distributorships are numerous and are often foreign based. Finding a reliable distributor is challenging because of a lack of accessible information on private companies. The Economic-Commercial section of the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat and Turkmenistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry provide leads for local partners and help identify potential partners for U.S. firms. Contact: Turkmenistan Chamber of Commerce, Tel. (993 12) 39 89 81, Fax (993 12) 39 89 79. E-mail: info@cci.gov.tm.

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.