“Uzbekistan’s WTO accession: challenges and opportunities”

Conference on “Uzbekistan’s WTO accession: challenges and opportunities” was held on 5^th December 2022 in UWED with Prof. Dr Maarten SMEETS (Senior Advisor to WCP) at the head. Welcome remarks were given by Rector (UWED), First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sodyq SAFOEV and Deputy Director General (WTO) Xiangchen ZHANG (online).

On the tentative agenda of the program were two sessions bringing the issues related to Remaining Challenges in Concluding Accession Negotiations and Post-Accession Challenges, Perspective of Recently Acceded WTO Members and Academia. Speakers addressed the critical issues involved in concluding the accession negotiations, including domestic processes, legislative actions, reforms and capacity building support during the accession process and the key challenges that can be expected following the conclusion of Uzbekistan’s WTO accession and how to derive the benefits from its membership. Presenters included representatives from government, academic institutions in the region and partner institutions. Issues covered included the implementation of the WTO commitments, institutional set ups and support to be provided to Uzbekistan in benefiting from the WTO’s commitments and creating new economic opportunities.