The Second Central Asia Trade Policy Forum was held eight years after the first edition of the event in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan. Representatives from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan discussed key challenges in WTO accession negotiations and shared their experiences in domestic coordination processes.

Discussions were also held on the potential of trade facilitation in the region and its impact on the volume of trade flows through the Middle Corridor (a network of transport routes extending from China to Europe across Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus into Turkey) as well as the trade policy “toolbox” that can be used to achieve climate goals.

At the high-level session dedicated to “Central Asia in the Multilateral Trading System: The Case for WTO Accession”, Director-General Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the region's role within the global multilateral trading system, emphasizing that the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement can significantly advance the region's sustainable connectivity agenda. See her full remarks here.

Representatives from both WTO members  and acceding governments shared their experiences on lessons learned through the accession process and benefits of WTO membership. Kazakhstan Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev highlighted a 90% share of WTO members in Kazakhstan's foreign trade, stating that “Kazakhstan firmly believes the accession of Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan to the WTO will strengthen  trade and economic cooperation in our region.”

Ambassador Zhanar Aitzhan, former Chief Negotiator for Kazakhstan's WTO accession, noted the role of WTO membership in diversifying Kazakhstan's foreign direct investment (FDI) portfolio. Prior to WTO accession, 70% of FDI was concentrated in Kazakhstan's commodity and oil and gas sectors. Eight years post-accession, 50% of investments are now directed towards non-extractive sectors.  Governor of the Central Bank Timur Suleimenov, who chaired the 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva, also reaffirmed Kazakhstan's commitment to the WTO.

Tajikistan's Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Trade Ahliddin Nuriddinzoda noted that WTO membership contributed to the integration of the country into the global economy. He said that the trade policy review conducted in 2021 served to take stock of the resulting economic achievements. Ms Syiadat Ormonova, Head of WTO Issues Sector at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, stated that the observance of most favoured nation (MFN) and national treatment principles led to the geographical expansion of trade. Liberalization had resulted in the growth of telecommunication services, she added.

Speaking on behalf of Uzbekistan, Mr Azizbek Urunov, Chief Negotiator for WTO accession, stressed that Uzbekistan's Strategy-2030 listed WTO accession as a priority. Uniform trade rules and improved transit potential could make it easier for goods to transit through Asia, while access to global markets and value chains could increase productivity, he said.

Mr Ylham Yarashov, Head of the Department of Cooperation with the WTO at the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, referred to the WTO as a catalyst for economic transformation. He informed the audience of the upcoming submission of Turkmenistan's Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) to the WTO. Ms Nazrin Mirzazada, Deputy Head of the Standardization, Technical Regulation and Certification Department, noted that Azerbaijan pursued WTO accession with the objectives of diversifying the national economy, reducing dependence on the oil sector and attracting FDI.

Representatives of the WTO, ADB, ITC, the World Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and UN Trade and Development provided updates on current support initiatives in the region and projects going forward.

Ms Lyaziza Sabyrova, head of regional cooperation and integration in the Central and West Asia Department of the ADB, noted a new momentum in the ADB-WTO relationship marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2024. She welcomed the acceleration of WTO accession among the three remaining Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) members acceding to the WTO. Under the broad CAREC 2030 Strategy, she reaffirmed ADB’s continuing support to CAREC members to integrate further in the global economy, particularly through WTO accession, trade facilitation, and mainstreaming of climate change action in CAREC trade work guided by the Climate Change Vision endorsed by the CAREC Ministers in November 2023.

Ms Daria Karman, representing ITC, acknowledged that Central Asia is a focus region for ITC in promoting intra-regional and international trade and creating conditions for a better business environment. ITC initiatives in the region aim to foster domestic reforms and deepen economic integration, including through WTO accession. She added that over the last few years, ITC has been working closely with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in facilitating their WTO accession through the respective European Union-funded projects: “Facilitating the Process of Uzbekistan's Accession to the WTO” and “Turkmenistan: Enhancing Trade Resilience and Integration”. She also noted that ITC's initiatives in the region are materializing into tangible reforms.

Government representatives shared success stories of technical assistance implemented and called for more coordination among partners.

The next Forum is scheduled to take place in 2025.