Measures to intensify Uzbekistan’s entry into the World Trade Organization discussed in Geneva

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- A delegation of Uzbekistan headed by Special Representative of the President for the World Trade Organization (WTO), Chief Negotiator Azizbek Urunov and Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ahadbek Khaydarov visited Geneva, Dunyo news agency reported.

According to the Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan in Geneva, the visit was organized in order to familiarize the member states of the organization with the measures taken in the republic to intensify the processes of the country’s accession to the WTO, as well as participation in the 15th meeting of the Working Group on Azerbaijan’s accession to the WTO.

During the visit, the delegation of Uzbekistan also met with WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, her deputy Zhang Xianchen, as well as a number of bilateral negotiations on access to the market for goods and services with certain countries of Latin America, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and the Arab world .

The WTO leadership highly appreciated the recent decision of the President to intensify the process of the country’s accession to the Organization. The commitment of the WTO Secretariat to provide comprehensive support to Uzbekistan in the process of accession and intensification of bilateral cooperation for the prompt resolution of emerging issues was expressed.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also voiced the readiness of the WTO to expand technical assistance to Uzbekistan to support bilateral and multilateral negotiations with member countries of the Organization. In this context, the parties discussed the possibility of attracting expert assistance from a number of international consultants.

During the visit, the delegation, together with the WTO Secretariat, prepared the entire package of fundamental documents for holding the 7th meeting of the Working Group on Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO, tentatively in September-October 2023.