The key facts

  • On October 15, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan reached an agreement to conclude bilateral market access negotiations within the framework of Uzbekistan's WTO accession.
  • The negotiations, initiated by Kazakhstan in February, lasted eight months.
  • Following domestic procedures, the signing of a preliminarily agreed protocol is expected in the coming weeks.

Agreement to Conclude Negotiations

On October 15, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan reached an agreement to conclude bilateral negotiations on market access as part of the process of Uzbekistan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). This was reported by Azizbek Urinov, the representative of the President of Uzbekistan on WTO matters. The negotiations were initiated by Kazakhstan in February of this year and lasted eight months.

Assessment of the Negotiation Process

Azizbek Urinov noted that despite difficulties, the negotiations proceeded in a constructive spirit and reflected the parties' shared commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations. He thanked his Kazakh colleagues for their dedication and consistent efforts, as well as Uzbekistan's WTO accession team for their hard work, professionalism, and determination. Special thanks were extended to Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khojaev and Head of the Presidential Administration Saide Mirziyoeva for their support in achieving the result.

Next Steps

According to Urinov, Uzbekistan's accession process to the WTO is approaching its final stage. After the completion of necessary domestic procedures, the signing of a preliminarily agreed protocol with Kazakhstan is expected in the coming weeks.