Geneva hosts X sitting of the Working Group on Kazakhstan’s accession into the WTO
The Kazakh delegation was headed by Ms. Zhanar Aitzhanova, Kazakhstan’s Minister for Industry and Trade.
Geneva hosted the 10th sitting of the Working Group on Kazakhstan’s accession into the WTO. The Kazakh delegation was headed by Ms. Zhanar Aitzhanova, Kazakhstan’s Minister for Industry and Trade.
The delegation comprised representatives of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Budget Planning, Agriculture Ministry, National Bank, Agency for Natural Monopolies Control, Justice Ministry’s Committee for Intellectual Property Rights.
The sitting on Kazakhstan’s accession was attended by representatives of the EU, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, India, Kyrgyzstan, Ecuador, Paraguay and some other nations.
In the course of the sitting, the Kazakh side briefed the Working Group members on amendments inserted to Kazakh legislation in terms of currency control, customs administration, sanitary and veterinary control, protection of intellectual property rights to bring the Kazakh legislation in compliance with WTO agreements. In particular, the Kazakh side pointed to simplification of transaction passport obtainment procedures and abolishment of licensing of FX operations. In terms of technical regulations, Kazakhstan has passed 3 laws and 17 technical regulations to ensure safety of chemicals, equipment and machinery, children’s toys and construction materials and adopted new requirements to motor road service.
Besides, the Working Group was informed on amendments inserted into the national Criminal Code and Public Offence Code to toughen liability for violation of intellectual property rights.
Representatives of a number of member states comprising the Working Group, including those of the EU, the USA, Kyrgyzstan, Ecuador and Switzerland, spoke in favor of soonest accession of Kazakhstan into the WTO.
The sitting studied the updated progress report on Kazakhstan’s accession which is the major document outlining the economic policy of the state and obligations assumed when signing WTO agreements.
Besides, July 14-18 Geneva hosted consultations with representatives of the USA and bilateral talks with the EU, Australia and Equator on access of goods and services to the Kazakhstan’s markets. In the course of the talks, the sides discussed conditions of access to telecom and financial services markets of Kazakhstan for foreign players and issues of entry and sojourn of foreign individuals in the territory of Kazakhstan.
Kazinform
