UNDP raises awareness of the academia on the WTO accession process of Uzbekistan

The “Aid for Trade in Central Asia” project, implemented by the UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan (MIIT), held 10 seminars on the topic "Challenges and opportunities of the WTO membership" at the State Universities of Gulistan, Karshi, Termez, Fergana, Andijan, Namangan, Karakalpakstan, Urgench, Bukhara and Samarkand during April-May 2023.

May 24, 2023

Experience from WTO-acceded countries reveals that collaboration between government and academia has proven critically important in promoting and explaining the role of multilateral trading system among students, as well as in nurturing highly qualified specialists on WTO-related issues.

To foster a structured and well-informed policy dialogue between the government and academia, by addressing knowledge-gaps about the WTO and accession process, UNDP and MIIT organized a series of seminars on understanding the WTO, status of Uzbekistan’s accession process, potential benefits and challenges provided by the WTO membership, and role of academia in the WTO accession and post-accession processes.

Overall, more than 700 students majoring in economics and law were able to expand their knowledge on the role of WTO in the modern world, as well as costs and benefits associated with membership in this organization. While UNDP experts provided background information about the multilateral trading system and the functioning of the WTO, a representative of MIIT, Mr. Jahongir Yuldashev, explained in detail the WTO accession process and briefed the students on the latest progress made by Uzbekistan towards WTO membership.

“Now I understand that the Uzbekistan’s membership in the WTO will affect not only businesses, but ordinary citizens as well. In general, WTO accession goes along with reform agenda put forward by the Government, and at some point, it can even serve as an external anchor for ongoing reforms,”

- a student from Andijan State University said.

To recall, accession of Uzbekistan to the WTO remains one of the priorities based on the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026. Moreover, on 20 December 2022, in his message to the Parliament, President Mirziyoyev mentioned the need to complete the main negotiations on the accession to the WTO and adapt the legislation as soon as possible.

The ‘Aid for Trade in Central Asia’ project is funded by the Government of Finland and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan.

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