Kazakhstan to join WTO in 2012 - Vice Minister of Economic Development and Trade
As for Kazakhstan, we are at advanced phase of the negotiating process and expect completion of the bilateral talks with our key partners by the yearend. If all goes as we planned Kazakhstan will access to the WTO at the beginning of 2012. Vice Minister of Economic Development and Trade Timur Suleimenov said it at the 6th Forum on regional economic integration held in Almaty today.
"As you know, membership in the WTO will give us high hopes in those economic reforms which the countries striving for joining the Organizaion, must pursue for liberalizing their economies and bringing it into compliance with the international requirements", the Vice Minister noted.
According to him, establishment of the Customs has become the biggest event for Kazakhstan this year. "We have formed a single customs space within which we can move the goods produces in Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus. This is a great steppe forward which seemed unachievable last year. However, today we see functioning of the Customs Union and it is a reality", T. Suleimenov said.
Establishment of the Single Economic Space is the next phase of economic integration for Kazakhstan which will ensure free movement of services, capital and labor forces. "By 2012 we plan to create a fully functioning Single Economic Space. With its establishment the economic integration among our states will be enhanced and deepened", he added.
It was noted that the integration initiatives connected with the Customs Union arouse great interest of non-CIS countries. "Currently we are holding talks with the countries of free trade zones, namely, with Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein. We hope that on November 23, 2010 in Geneva there will be announced an official negotiations of the Customs Union with these countries. We also plan to launch talks with New Zealand on establishment of free trade zones", the Vice Minister concluded.