DUSHANBE, February 24, 2015, Asia-Plus — The World Bank Group is helping Tajikistan improve its investment climate and promote foreign investment and international trade by streamlining government administration and eliminating red tape.
Rustamjon Soliyev, Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, on February 23 deposited Tajikistan’s instrument of accession to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement for Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, according to International Finance Corporation (IFC) Country Office in Tajikistan.
Known as the Apostille Convention, it’s one of the world’s most successful legal cooperation treaties in private international law. Following the usual procedural steps, the Convention will enter into force for Tajikistan on October 31, 2015, making it the 108th Contracting State to the Convention.
This will replace the traditionally lengthy legalization process with an authentication certificate, greatly simplifying the process of producing public documents abroad and providing foreign companies with higher degree of juridical confidence in cross border issues.
“The Government of Tajikistan has sought the support of both the World Bank Group and the Permanent Bureau to make the accession of Tajikistan to the Convention possible,” said Christophe Bernasconi, Secretary General, Hague Conference on Private and International Law. “The Permanent Bureau congratulates Tajikistan and is grateful for the ongoing cooperation of the government, in particular the Ministries of Justice and Foreign Affairs. We look forward to welcoming Tajikistan to the Apostille Convention.”
“Tajikistan’s accession to the Apostille Convention comes at an excellent time to support the country’s economic growth,” said Christopher Miller, IFC Program Manager. “It will contribute toward strengthening Tajikistan’s credibility in the international trade arena, making it a more attractive place to do business because the legalization of documents will require less time and money. We also expect significant benefits for Tajik citizens working and studying abroad.”
The initiative is reportedly part of World Bank Group’s efforts to improve the investment climate in Central Asia by facilitating investments and reducing compliance costs for businesses. The IFC Central Asia Investment Climate Program is a part of the World Bank Group Global Practice on Trade and Competitiveness. The Practice’s focus is on driving economic growth and job creation by strengthening competitiveness, increasing trade, promoting investment, fostering innovation, and promoting entrepreneurship, in partnership with policymakers and the private sector worldwide.
The Program is implemented in partnership with the government of Switzerland and the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development.
