DUSHANBE, June 17, Asia-Plus — Member nations of the Eurasian Economic Community (EAEC) have agreed to create a ‘green corridor’ for fruit and vegetable supplies.
A protocol on creating the ‘green corridor’ was inked by representatives of Tajikistan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Uzbekistan in Dushanbe at the end of last week.
We will recall that the seminar formally titled “Use of Exchange Mechanisms for Optimization of Turnover of Perishable Vegetable-and-Fruit Products and Potatoes on EAEC Member Nations’ Markets” was held in Dushanbe on June 10-12. The meeting brought together specialists from member nations of the EAEC to discuss issues related to expansion of cooperation in providing domestic markets with farm produce. The seminar resulted in signing of the protocol on creating the green corridor.
The green corridor is created to promote unimpeded export/import of fruit-and-vegetable and other farm produce among the EAEC states and create favorable conditions for farm produce suppliers and consumers within the Community. According to experts, the protocol will help remove export difficulties during customs clearance procedures, excessive inspections and stops during transit transportation, etc.
The initial concept of the Eurasian Economic Community was first proposed in October 2000, as a successor to the CIS Customs Union, when Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan signed a treaty on broad economic and trade cooperation. The organization was formally created with the ratification of that treaty in May 2001. The initial five-member group was further expanded in May 2002 when Moldova and Ukraine were granted observer status, and again in April 2003, when Ukraine and Armenia gained observer status. Uzbekistan joined the EAEC in 2006.
