Turkmenistan Seeks WTO Membership, Learns from Kazakhstan's Experience

Strategic Insights -

A high-level delegation from Turkmenistan, led by Ylham Yarashov, visited Kazakhstan to gain insights into its experience with joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2015. The Kazakhstan delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration Zhanel Kushukova, shared its expertise and offered to cooperate with Turkmenistan in its bid to join the global economy. The exchanges focused on the broad spectrum of issues required to qualify for WTO membership, including economic reforms and increased trade with neighboring countries in Central Asia.

Key Takeaways:

  • A Turkmen delegation, led by Ylham Yarashov, visited Kazakhstan to learn from its experience joining the WTO in 2015.
  • The Kazakhstan delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Trade and Integration Zhanel Kushukova, offered to cooperate with Turkmenistan in its WTO accession process.
  • The exchanges focused on the broad spectrum of issues required to qualify for WTO membership, including economic reforms and increased trade with neighboring countries in Central Asia.
  • The visit was organized by the International Trade Centre (ITC) under the European Union-funded project Turkmenistan: Enhancing Trade Resilience and Integration.
  • A workshop held earlier in May prepared 40 Turkmen government officials on the technical aspects of negotiating market access on goods under the WTO framework.
  • The officials learned how to prepare initial schedules of tariff concessions, which will form the basis for the negotiations.
  • Kazakhstan's experience in WTO negotiations will help Turkmenistan navigate the complex process of joining the global economy.

Statistics:

  • 40 Turkmen government officials participated in the May workshop on WTO negotiations.
  • Kazakhstan joined the WTO in 2015.
  • The International Trade Centre (ITC) organized the visit under the European Union-funded project Turkmenistan: Enhancing Trade Resilience and Integration.

Sources:

  • Geneva, Switzerland: International Trade Centre (press release no date)
  • International Trade Centre (ITC) - European Union-funded project Turkmenistan: Enhancing Trade Resilience and Integration.