DUSHANBE, May 7, 2014, Asia-Plus – A two-day seminar on introducing Tajik public and private sectors to the trade-defense instruments under the World Trade Organization (WTO) framework is concluding in Dushanbe today.

Organized by the International Trade Center (ITC) under the project on supporting Tajikistan’s public and private sector in strengthening their knowledge of the opportunities and challenges stemming from the WTO membership, the seminar is introducing representatives of Tajik public and private sectors to the trade-defense instruments available under the WTO legal framework, such as anti-dumping, anti- subsidies and safeguards, Saidmumin Kamolov, ITC Tajikistan National Program Manager said.

Main substantive concepts and procedural aspects of the trade-defense instruments and investigations have reportedly been discussed with the focus on examples applied in some CIS countries, such as Ukraine and in the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

The ITC, through this technical assistance project, which is financed by the Government of Switzerland within its Trade Cooperation Program (TCP) in Tajikistan, is committed to support Tajikistan’s public and private sector in strengthening their knowledge of the opportunities and challenges stemming from the WTO membership.

The WTO is an international organization established in 1995 regulating trade among its Members. The WTO is primarily concerned with the creation of an open, free and fair trade environment where all Members have equal access to wealth gains. With its accession on 2 March 2013, Tajikistan has become the 159th Member of the organization.

Within its Cooperation Strategy for 2012-2015 Switzerland focuses on the four sectors in Tajikistan, such as Health, Rule of Law, Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation, and Private Sector Development. The overall goal of the Swiss Cooperation in Tajikistan is to support the transition process in the country through contributing to the economic development and by helping build institutions and systems which are responsive to the population’s needs.