Turkmenistan Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in turkmenistan, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Market Challenges
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•    Businesses frequently complain about a general lack of contract sanctity. 
•    Laws and regulations are subject to frequent change and contradictory interpretation by various government agencies and officials.
•    The judicial branch operates under direct instruction from the executive.
•    Corruption is pervasive and endemic at all levels of the business stream.
•    Qualified employees, particularly those with English language skills, are scarce.
•    Turkmenistan’s labor force generally lacks knowledge of standard Western business practices.
•    The Agency for Protection from Economic Risks, under the Ministry of Finance and Economy, holds a wide mandate to vet foreign companies before issuing licenses allowing operation in Turkmenistan. 
•    Foreign businesses in Turkmenistan face steep barriers to collecting on bills owed by government ministries. 
•    Companies face tight foreign exchange controls.
•    Turkmenistan’s visa procedures remain cumbersome and time-consuming despite efforts at reform.
•    Unreliable Internet access and slow download and upload speeds can hinder business. The Government of Turkmenistan regularly blocks certain mainstream websites and Virtual Private Networks (VPN).
•    Most industry is controlled by the GoTM and communication is slow, as it typically must be conducted via diplomatic notes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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