A mission from the World Trade Organization (WTO) Secretariat's Accessions Division, led by Maika Oshikawa and Anna Varyanik, is visiting Ashgabat from May 19 to 21. The main goal of the visit is to discuss further practical steps in Turkmenistan's integration into the global trading system.

This visit is of particular importance: it allows for a detailed review of the current stage of the accession process, an exchange of views on priority areas, and the coordination of specific measures to advance cooperation. The mission also demonstrates the WTO Secretariat's continued support for Turkmenistan's efforts in this area.

During the visit, productive meetings were held with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Minister of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan. WTO representatives also held talks with members of the Interagency Coordination Commission responsible for the country's accession to the Organization.

The parties focused on ongoing work, including the planned submission of a Memorandum on Turkmenistan's foreign trade regime to the WTO Secretariat in the near future. The submission of this document is expected to give new impetus to the process and allow for a more active transition to multilateral and bilateral negotiations.

Representatives of the WTO Secretariat highly praised the comprehensive nature and exceptional quality of the draft Memorandum. Head of Mission Maika Oshikawa emphasized that, in her many years of experience working on more than 20 WTO accession processes, she had never encountered a memorandum prepared at such a comprehensive and high-quality level.

It was specifically noted that this strategic document was developed under the coordination of the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, in close and effective collaboration with relevant ministries and government agencies.

Maika Oshikawa also emphasized the importance of Turkmenistan's parallel review of national legislation for compliance with WTO rules and regulations. In this regard, the experts highlighted new draft laws developed in key areas, including competition issues, trade defense measures, standardization, and technical regulation.

This activity is identified as critical for future stages of negotiations with WTO members, as it directly strengthens the country's legal and institutional framework.

Furthermore, the mission included meetings with development partners and donors. The parties discussed in detail potential areas for further cooperation, including technical assistance, capacity-building programs, expert support, and strengthening national institutions.

All meetings were held in a productive and constructive atmosphere, covering a wide range of issues. The mission will continue its work during the final day of technical meetings. The final discussions are expected to focus on practical next steps, cooperation priorities, and forms of technical support for the next stages.

The visit of the WTO Secretariat's Accession Section to Ashgabat was a crucial step in strengthening the bilateral partnership. It facilitates effective coordination, supports the preparation of key documents, advances the adaptation of national legislation, and clearly defines areas for further technical cooperation.