On December 13-14, Maxim Medvedkov, an international UNDP expert and adviser to the WTO Center of Expertise, visited Ashgabat.

The visit took place within the framework of the joint project of UNDP and the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan “Platform for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, phase II”.

On December 13, working meetings between the expert and the heads of ministries and departments were held on issues related to preparations for the country’s accession to the WTO. During the meetings, issues of the relationship between national and international legislation, its harmonization based on WTO agreements, as well as bringing procedures and standards in line with international requirements were discussed.

A round table was held at the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan, during which M. Medvedkov presented the report “Turkmenistan’s accession to the WTO: analysis of the institutional framework.” He also held consultations on the preparation of the Memorandum on the foreign trade regime, the sequence and nature of further actions to join the WTO and shared best practices in involving the business community in negotiations.

For students and teachers of the Turkmen State Institute of Economics and Management and the Turkmen State Institute of Finance, Maxim Medvedkov gave a lecture on the topic “World Trade Organization and Business Interests.” The issues of benefits and advantages of countries when joining the WTO were raised, including stimulating the business environment, increasing the efficiency of foreign economic activity, export growth, as well as increasing incomes and well-being of the population as a whole.