Tajik Ambassador to Belarus Qozidavlat Qoimdodov, who is also Tajikistan’s Permanent Representative to the CIS Institutions, informed participants in a meeting of the Council of the Member-Nation Permanent Representatives of Tajikistan’s joining the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The meeting took place in Minsk, Belarus on December 12.

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Qoimdodov noted that Tajikistan’s planned accession to the WTO would pave the way for constructive reforms in all branches of the country’s economy and improvement of its trade system, the CIS Executive Committee press center reports.

Mr. Qoimdodov also informed those present of Tajikistan’s intention to host an international conference on investment and trade issues in 2013.   During this conference, Tajikistan will demonstrate its readiness for an efficient and transparent economic cooperation within the framework of the World Trade Organization, Tajik diplomat noted.

At the same time, Qoimdodov noted that Tajikistan attached significance to the issue of joining the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.  “Tajikistan’s membership in the Customs Union is of no less significance [than accession to the WTO], because Tajikistan’s nearest economic and strategic partners participate in the work of this economic organization,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the CIS Executive Secretary Sergey Lebedev welcomed Tajikistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization.  He congratulated the authorities and the people of Tajikistan on joining the WTO anted that that event was positive not only for Tajikistan but for the CIS as a whole.     

We will recall that after Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan is the second Central Asian country to join the WTO.  In line with the decision of the WTO General Council, Tajikistan will have to ratify its accession package by June 7, 2013.  It will become a fully-fledged member of the WTO 30 days after the ratification date.  Since its request for accession in May 2001, Tajikistan has committed to fully comply with the WTO provisions without recurring to any transitional periods.  In compliance with the accession package, Tajikistan has undertaken a broad range of commitments to open up its trade regime and speed up its integration in the world trade system, including six bilateral agreements on market access for services and 13 on market access for goods.