Roundtable and Donor Engagement to Support Turkmenistan’s Accession to the World Trade Organization
On 30 May 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat convened a high-level Roundtable and Donor Engagement to Support Turkmenistan’s Accession to the WTO.
The Government of Turkmenistan announced the establishment of an intergovernmental government commission in-charge of WTO accession. Mr. Artur Andrysiak, Country Director of Turkmenistan Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank, underscored trade liberalization and WTO membership as crucial steps for Turkmenistan’s economic transformation and integration into the global economy. Ms. Maika Oshikawa, Director of WTO Accessions Division, recognized the role of development partners, particularly the ADB in building capacities to support Turkmenistan in the accession process.
ADB’s TA experts who are experienced negotiators from Kazakhstan, shared lessons learned and will continue to provide advisory support to the government commission in drafting the Memorandum on Foreign Trade Regime – a key document for WTO accession negotiations. WTO accession is a key priority under the CAREC Integrated Trade Agenda 2030.
More than 31 senior government officials from over 20 agencies and entities participated in the roundtable. At least 25 development partner representatives, including from UN agencies, the European Union, the International Trade Center, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe World Bank, and USAID, expressed commitment to support, collaborate to create synergies, and meet quarterly to update on activities supporting Turkmenistan’s accession.
The activity is supported under KSTA 9712: Implementing the Integrated Trade Agenda in the CAREC Program, co-funded by the Regional Cooperation and Integration Fund and the PRC Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation Fund (PRCF).
Key Documents
Presentations
Practical Approaches and Features of WTO Accession Process: The Experience of Kazakhstan (English, Russian)
Coordination of Ministries and Agencies’ Work in the Process of Kazakhstan’s WTO accession (English, Russian)
Roundtable Discussion with Development Partners: