Azerbaijan, Baku, June 4 / Trend E. Kosolapova /
Kazakhstan is close to joining the WTO as never before, independent financial analyst Damir Seisebayev said.
"This process, namely Kazakhstan's accession into the WTO, has lasted for 17 years and there remain some technical issues to resolve," Seisebayev told Trend via e-mail.
According to Seysebaev, Kazakhstan's accession to the WTO will allow the country to get access to world markets at a higher level, ensure the growth of investment, recognition of Kazakhstan as a country with a market economy, obtain the right to participate in the development of standards and mechanisms for resolving trade disputes and create conditions for improving the competitiveness of production.
However, according to him, alongside, the WTO accession bears some risks for the country as it gives access for cheap foreign products on to the domestic market. Therefore, there is a risk that local producers could remain out of work with all the ensuing consequences.
Seisebayev hoped that joining the WTO will bring more benefits. At the same time, according to him, the WTO itself is not very stable today.
"The WTO will not last long as there are internal contradictions and the expansion of the list of participants creates an even greater risk of collapse," the expert said.
