DUSHANBE, May 6, 2015, Asia-Plus -- Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament has ratified the World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade Facilitation.

A regular sitting of the first session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon of the fifth convocation, presided over by its head, Shukurjon Zuhurov, took place on May 6.

Speaking at the session, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Sayrahmon Nazriyev, said, “The Agreement provides for simplification of the procedure of drawing up of documents for transportation of exported, imported and transit goods.”

According to him, expenses of exporters and importers will decrease by 13-15 percent and this measure will lead to the fall of prices for imported goods in the WTO member nations.

WTO members concluded negotiations on a Trade Facilitation Agreement at the Bali Ministerial Conference in December 2013.

The Trade Facilitation Agreement contains provisions for expediting the movement, release and clearance of goods, including goods in transit. It also sets out measures for effective cooperation between customs and other appropriate authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues. It further contains provisions for technical assistance and capacity building in this area.

We will recall that Tajikistan applied for WTO membership on May 29, 2001 and the Working Party on the accession of Tajikistan was established by the General Council on 18 July 2001.  Tajikistan''s negotiations to join the WTO lasted for 11 years and Tajikistan concluded its membership negotiations on October 26 2012, when the Working Party adopted the accession package. 

As a result of the negotiations, Tajikistan has agreed to undertake a series of important commitments to further liberalize its trade regime and accelerate its integration in the world economy.

The WTO paved the way for Tajikistan’s membership by approving its accession package on December 10, 2012.  At a ceremony in Geneva on December 10, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon signed the protocol on Tajikistan''s admission to the international organization.

The program of adaptation of Tajikistan’s economy to the post WTO accession conditions was adopted on October 31, 2014.  The main objective of this program is in creating favorable conditions for development of small and medium-size enterprises in the country, attraction of foreign investments, and expansion of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the WTO member nations.