Geneva, 17-18 September 2025 – The annual WTO Public Forum took place in Geneva, serving as a central platform for discussing the future of global trade. This year’s discussions focused on pressing topics such as digitalization, sustainable development, inclusiveness, the participation of developing countries in the global economy, and the role of the WTO amid the transformation of global supply chains.

As part of the forum, a panel session titled “Uzbekistan’s Accession to the WTO: Economic Value and Regional Perspective” was held. One of the keynote speakers was Ambassador Kairat Torebayev, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the WTO.

In his remarks, the Permanent Representative emphasized that Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO would be a historic milestone not only for the country itself but for the entire Central Asian region. He underlined that Kazakhstan’s experience clearly demonstrates the long-term benefits of WTO membership, noting that since Kazakhstan joined the WTO in 2015, its foreign trade turnover grew from USD 76 billion to 134 billion, exports rose from USD 45 billion to 77 billion, and foreign direct investment more than tripled.

Permanent Representative Torebayev also recalled that 98% of Kazakhstan’s trade is conducted under WTO rules, providing predictability, most-favored-nation treatment, and access to international dispute settlement mechanisms. He highlighted Kazakhstan’s successful implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), which led to a reduction in export procedure clearance times from two days to just 20 minutes.

Speaking on regional integration, the Permanent Representative noted that developing the Middle Corridor is key to strengthening trade connectivity in Central Asia. He stated that in 2023, cargo volumes on this route grew by 86%, reaching nearly 3 million tonnes, and that Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO would give further momentum to this direction.

Among the other speakers at the session was WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who commended Uzbekistan’s reform efforts and emphasized that the country’s WTO accession would lend additional legitimacy to its transformation agenda, boost investor confidence, and send a positive signal for the entire region.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-wto/press/news/details/1071285?lang=kk