DUSHANBE, March 2, 2013, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan has become a full member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The WTO approved Tajikistan’s accession in December and named March 2 as the official entry date. Tajikistan becomes the 159th member of the WTO. Tajikistan becomes the second Central Asian country to be admitted. Kyrgyzstan became a WTO member in 1998.
The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the International Trade Center (ITC) congratulated Tajikistan on an official accession to the WTO, and affirmed their commitment to continue supporting the country in the post-accession period.
Press release issued by SECO, in particular, says that the Director of Swiss Cooperation in Tajikistan, Mr. Peter Mikula noted: “Tajikistan’s accession to the WTO has only been possible thanks to the strong political will and commitment demonstrated by the President and the Tajik Government. SECO is grateful to its main counterpart, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, for the tremendous work performed since 2001. We sincerely congratulate Minister Sharif Rahimzoda, Deputy Minister Saidrahmon Nazriyev, the WTO division team of the Ministry as well as the team of professional negotiators without whom WTO accession could have been impossible to reach.”
Switzerland remains committed to working with Tajikistan by providing assistance for the implementation of WTO provisions, press release noted. In the years to come Switzerland will reportedly continue its assistance in Tajikistan in the field of implementation of WTO provisions (services, technical barriers to trade (TBT) and sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS)) and in the area of intellectual property rights related to trade (TRIPS), textile and clothing industry and other issues regarding the post accession process.
“WTO accession is a big step forward for Tajikistan on its way to an economically viable state. However, the implementation of the commitments made in the course of accession remains a challenge for the future. In many sectors, accession to the WTO will require comprehensive changes in business practices and large scale training and monitoring to develop a strong non-traditional export base. The competitiveness of domestic industries also relies on the business climate and other factors such as the cost of energy, telecommunications, financial services, infrastructure and the like. WTO accession should contribute to improving this environment on condition that the Government and the private sector keep on demonstrating their commitment in implementing the domestic reforms based on solid consensus among the major stakeholders.” – Mr. Peter Mikula concluded.
Switzerland has supported Tajikistan throughout the entire accession process with a focused trade-related technical assistance. This, in particular, included a number of infrastructure projects, private sector development programs, aid in the financial sector and trade promotion projects.
Mr. Saidrahmon Nazriyev, Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade says: “From the very beginning of Tajikistan’s application process, SECO has been an instrumental and valued partner in supporting the necessary internal reforms and facilitating our capacity to negotiate for accession under favorable economic terms. And now, when Tajikistan has become a fully-fledged member of the WTO, our key task is to prepare the Government Road Map for the WTO Post Accession period (the next 4-5 years), which will enable the relevant ministries and agencies, as well as the private sector to benefit from the opportunities and overcome the challenges that WTO membership has in store. The Road Map will be drafted in the upcoming months and shared with all line ministries, agencies and development partners for comments and discussion. In light of this, we would like to express our gratitude to the Government of Switzerland and other donor partners for their consent and readiness to support us in developing and implementing the Road Map.”
We will recall that Tajikistan informed the World Trade Organization on January 31, 2102 that it had ratified its accession package.
Tajikistan’s accession package contains the Working Party report outlining its reformed trade regime and its commitments as a WTO member, its market access schedules on goods and services, the General Council Decision and the Protocol of Accession.
Tajikistan applied for WTO membership on May 29, 2001 and the Working Party on the accession of Tajikistan was established by the General Council on 18 July 2001. Tajikistan”s negotiations to join the WTO lasted for 11 years and Tajikistan concluded its membership negotiations on October 26 2012, when the Working Party adopted the accession package.
As a result of the negotiations, Tajikistan has agreed to undertake a series of important commitments to further liberalize its trade regime and accelerate its integration in the world economy.
The WTO paved the way for Tajikistan’s membership by approving its accession package on December 10, 2012. At a ceremony in Geneva on December 10, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon signed the protocol on Tajikistan”s admission to the international organization.
