DUSHANBE, February 14, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The Minister of Economic Development of Tajikistan, Sharif Rahimzoda, met with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Executive Secretary Sven Alkalaj on February 10 to discuss the results of a recent study, conducted by UNECE, on the regulatory and procedural barriers to trade in Tajikistan, according to UNECE Weekly, February 10-14, 2014, # 564.

The minister reportedly presented the study''s conclusions at the 6th session of the Committee on Trade.

Tajikistan''s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2013 has triggered the adoption of a program to adapt the country''s economy to WTO rules and improve its performance in the World Bank''s Doing Business Classification, where it currently ranks 143 out of 189 countries.

Rahimzoda said that the study''s recommendations will help Tajikistan eliminate regulatory and procedural barriers to trade and create a more favorable investment and business climate in the country.

They will also help the country in its quest to achieve deeper regional and global economic integration and to inform partners and donors about what areas may need support and assistance.

The Government is currently finalizing plans to address the recommendations of the study covering improvements of border control systems, transparency, customs clearance, the use of electronic documents and the Single Window facility, regional cooperation, overland transport, logistical services, the SQAM system including technical regulation, standardization, conformity assessment, product certification and metrology.

The minister stressed that Tajikistan is interested in exchanging information and experience in post-WTO accession measures with other countries in the region.

In the Committee''s discussions, the possibility of working with neighboring countries in Central Asia on regional analyses of regulatory and procedural barriers to trade was highlighted by several delegates.  UNECE will follow up on the study with support in developing project proposals through a UN Development Account project.