WTO Approves Membership for Tajikistan

(Geneva) – The World Trade Organization has approved Tajikistan’s 11-year struggle to join the UN’s global trade body, paving the way for the Central Asian nation to become its 159th member. Tajikistan President, Emomali Rahmon hailed the move, describing it as “a landmark in Tajikistan’s history.”
The country will become an official member 30 days after it ratifies the deal, something it must do by June 7, 2013, the WTO said. The decision to allow Tajikistan to become only the second Central Asian nation to join the UN’s trade body after Kyrgyzstan was expected after a WTO working group approved its entry terms in October. As part of the accession accord, Tajikistan agreed to undertake a series of commitments to further open its trade regime and accelerate its integration in the world economy.