After over 11 years of negotiations, Tajikistan became the 159th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). Today, on March 2, 2013 is a landmarks of history for the Republic of Tajikistan, Avesta news agency reported.
The Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) congratulate the Republic of Tajikistan on its official accession to the WTO, and reaffirm its commitment to continue supporting the country in the period after accession.
In a press release issued today by SECO, Country Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan Peter Mikula said: "The entry of the Republic of Tajikistan to the WTO became possible only thanks to strong political will and commitment demonstrated by the president and the government of Tajikistan. SECO expresses gratitude to its main partner, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Tajikistan, for the tremendous work done since 2001. We congratulate Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sharif Rahimzoda, Deputy Minister Saidrahmon Nazriev, a subdivision of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade responsible for the WTO, and also a team of professional negotiators, without which the accession to the WTO would be impossible".
Switzerland continues to express its commitment to cooperation with the Republic of Tajikistan by providing assistance in the fulfillment of the provisions on the WTO. In subsequent years, Switzerland will continue to provide assistance to the Republic of Tajikistan in the field of fulfillment of the provisions on the WTO (services, technical barriers to trade) and sanitary and phytosanitary measuers and in the sphere of Intellectual Property Rights, the textile and clothing industry and other issues in the period after WTO accession.