BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 10
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
The International Trade Center (ITC) is implementing a new project of the European Union (EU) on "Facilitating the process of Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO)", Trend reports citing press service of the Delegation of the European Union in Uzbekistan.
The project was officially launched on November 10, 2020, in cooperation with the Ministry of Investment and foreign trade of Uzbekistan (MIFT) during a high-level online event.
The project, which began operations in February 2020, aims to support Uzbekistan's development plans to modernize its economy by facilitating the WTO accession process.
The project will focus on providing support to the government of Uzbekistan in developing its negotiating positions and preparing documents required in accordance with the requirements of the process of accession to the WTO.
The project is also aimed at assisting the executive and legislative branches of government in the development of individual sectoral laws and regulations required in accordance with the new international obligations of Uzbekistan.
The project will raise awareness among trade policy officials of the WTO accession process and the legal framework of the organization
In addition, the capacity of Uzbekistan to comply with WTO rules, in particular with respect to the WTO Agreements on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, on Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), and on Trade Facilitation (TFT) will increase.
Also, the project will raise awareness of the business sector, including associations of women entrepreneurs, about the WTO accession process and its benefits
Uzbekistan will be able to take advantage of ITC's many years of experience in assisting least developed and developing countries in the process of their accession to the WTO by providing a wide range of technical assistance services.
ITC will interact directly with the EU Delegation to Uzbekistan and the MIFT of Uzbekistan during the 5-year period of the project.
The project has already given a powerful start, and assistance was provided to obtain support from the WTO members during the 4th meeting of the Working Group on Uzbekistan's accession to the WTO, which took place on July 7, 2020, after almost fifteen years of stagnation in negotiations.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @romakayeva
