Oriented on making people closer

Ashgabat, May 16 | ORIENT. A two-day seminar was held on the most important aspect of Turkmenistan’s integration into the global trading system – negotiations on tariff concessions upon accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The event, held on May 14-15 at the Archabil Hotel, brought together representatives of more than 20 ministries and departments of the country, including university professors, and became an important step in enhancing Turkmenistan’s efforts to join the WTO.

The seminar was organized by the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan in cooperation with the International Trade Center (ITC) within the framework of the project “Turkmenistan: Trade Sustainability and Integration,” funded by the European Union. One of the key areas of this project is to enhance the capacity of Turkmen officials and civil servants to successfully participate in the WTO accession process.

An international expert, Jurgen Richtering, Senior ITC Expert on Trade in Goods, who previously headed the Market Access Analysis Department of the WTO Economic Research and Statistics Department, shared his knowledge and experience with the participants.

Opening the seminar, the Head of the WTO Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, Ylham Yarashov, emphasized that such events are critically important for Turkmenistan, which is actively pursuing its path to joining the WTO. They prepare the ground for future bilateral negotiations with interested members of the Organization, requiring national experts to be fully equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills. In the context of trade in goods, the special importance of understanding tariff obligations, non-tariff measures and rules of origin for developing effective trade strategies and developing a competitive export-oriented economy was noted.

Over the course of two days, the seminar participants familiarized themselves with the basic rules for accession of goods to markets within the WTO, deepening their understanding of the key aspects of future membership. Particular attention was paid to the topic of tariffs, which are an important tool for protecting national industries. The expert examined specific duties in detail and demonstrated in practice the methods for calculating their ad valorem equivalents.

The practical aspects of the negotiation process generated keen interest. The participants actively discussed issues of tariff concessions, learned to develop a list of potential concessions and analyze the challenges and opportunities of the upcoming negotiations. Specific issues related to trade in agricultural products were separately touched upon.

Sharing his impressions, Mr. Jurgen Richtering highly praised the organization of the seminar in Ashgabat, noting the good attendance and high involvement of the participants. He emphasized their desire to learn and deep understanding of the topics discussed. At the same time, the expert expressed the opinion that in order to successfully complete the accession process and obtain maximum benefits from WTO membership, further deepening of knowledge and provision of more training opportunities in specific areas is necessary.

The seminar became an important platform for raising awareness and strengthening the capacity of Turkmen experts in the key aspect of the country's integration into the global trading system. The knowledge and skills acquired are intended to facilitate more effective participation of national specialists in the upcoming WTO negotiations. It is expected that successful accession to this global trade organization will open up new prospects for the development of Turkmenistan's economy, attracting investment and expanding foreign trade relations.

Photo: MFET