RESTRICTED  
  
WT/GC/M/140  
 
5 February 2013  
(13-0600)  Page: 1/8  
General Council 
10 December 2012    
 
 MINUTES OF MEETING 
HELD IN THE CENTRE WILLIAM RAPPARD ON 10 DECEMBER 2012 
Chairperson:  Mrs Elin Johansen (Norway) 
Prior to the adoption of the Agenda1, the Chairperson, welcomed Mr Emomali Rahmon, President of 
the Republic of Tajikistan and his entire delegation. 
 1  ACCESSION  OF TAJIKISTAN – REPORT OF THE WORKING PARTY (WT/ACC/TJK/30 
AND WT/ACC/TJK/30/ADD.1 AND WT/ACC/TJK/30/ADD.2) 
1.1.  The Chairperson recalled that in July 2001, the General Council had established a Working 
Party to examine the request by Tajikistan for accession. On 26 October 2012, the Working Party 
had approved ad referendum  the accession package of the Repub lic of Tajikistan. The Report of 
the Working Party was before the General Council for consideration and adoption in documents 
WT/ACC/TJK/30 and Addenda 1 and 2. She invited the Chairman of the Working Party, Mr Clyde Kull, to introduce the report. 
1.2.  Mr. Kull (Estonia), Chairman  of the Working Party on the Accession of Tajikistan, said this 
was a historic day for Tajikistan and a significant moment for the WTO. With Members poised to 
decide on the terms of Tajikistan's entry into the WTO, the organization was set to move closer to becoming a truly global organization. The successful conclusion of WTO accession negotiations 
should not be taken for granted. These negotiations typically involved extensive and often time-
consuming domestic legislative and institutional reforms, which needed to be aligned with economic development strategies. The resulting accession packages represented a delicate balance 
that had been meticulously crafted over many years on the basis of careful analysis, hard 
negotiation and detailed technical work. He was honoured to introduce the accession package of the Republic of Tajikistan and to report on the conclusions and recommendations of this package, 
and to have been associated with this undertaking. The road had been long and sometimes 
daunting. This package of accession documents was the result of over 10 years of complex 
negotiations during which the Working Party had held nine formal meetings, as well as a number of informal meetings which had helped advance the negotiations. Tajikistan's accession to the 
multilateral trading system had begun in 2001, when a WTO Working Party had been established 
to examine Tajikistan's request for accession. Hi s personal involvement in the process had begun 
in October 2003 when he had taken over the chairm anship from his predecessor, Mr Tomasz Jodko 
(Poland). He wished to pay tribute to latter's work in steering the proceedings in the early days. In 
March 2004, he had chaired the first meeting of the Working Party, which had marked the start of the substantive part of the negotiations. The process had begun gathering momentum in 2010 and 
by the end of 2011 had reached full speed, which ha d carried it forward to the present day. In 
particular, the solid progress on the domestic legi slative front under the guidance of the President 
himself, had contributed greatly to the acceleration of the work during this period. It was remarkable that since 2005, Tajikistan had adopted over 100 pieces of new legislation. As a 
chairperson of the Working Party, he wished to pay tribute to the continuous efforts, goodwill and 
spirit of compromise shown by Members. This had enabled overcoming the many difficulties 
encountered in the accession process. 
                                               
1 The Proposed Agenda was circulated in document WT/GC/W/663. WT/GC/M/140 
 
- 2 - 
 
  1.3.  The traditional spirit of pragmatism of the WTO had prevailed and at key moments had 
allowed the Working Party to conclude its work. In particular, he wished to pay tribute to Tajikistan's team of devoted and committed ne gotiators under the leadership of Minister 
Rahimzoda and his Chief negotiator, Vice-Minister Nazriev. The entire team had done an 
exemplary job, working diligently and effectively – often around the clock – both in Dushanbe and 
Geneva. Of course, this success stemmed in no small way from Tajikistan's commitment to domestic reform and the efforts in Dushanbe to enact and implement WTO-consistent legislation. 
The close involvement of Tajikistan's lawmakers had been critical to the success of this endeavour. 
He wished to thank Mr Amir Kataev, who as a Member of Parliament had been an integral part of the Tajikistan delegation for many years. He also wished to thank the Director-General, Secretariat colleagues in various Divisions who had assisted  Tajikistan, and the Accessions Division. The 
results of the negotiations, constituting the terms of entry of Tajikistan into the WTO, were 
contained in the following documents: the Report of the Working Party (WT/ACC/TJK/30), the Schedule of Concessions and Commitments in Goods (WT/ACC/TJK/30/Add.1) and the Schedule of 
Specific Commitments in Services (WT/ACC/TJK/30/Add.2). The accession package had been 
adopted at the ninth and final Working Party meeting on 26 October 2012 on an ad referendum  
basis. By this action, the Working Party had completed its mandate and forwarded the 
documentation to the General Council for decision as appropriate. The Appendix to the Report 
reproduced the draft Decision for the General Counc il and the draft Protocol of Accession of the 
Republic of Tajikistan to the Agreement Establishi ng the World Trade Organization. The Protocol of 
Accession incorporated, by reference, the specific commitments undertaken by Tajikistan in the 
Report of the Working Party. Once again, he wished to pay tribute to the continuous efforts, 
positive approach and spirit of compromise shown all around, particularly in the critical final stages. As Working Party Chair, he commended the Report of the Working Party, as well as the 
draft Decision and Protocol of Accession, to the General Council for approval.  
1.4.  The Chairperson thanked Mr Kull, on behalf of all delegations, for having served as Chairman 
of this Working Party. In keeping with usual prac tice, she would begin with the draft Protocol of 
Accession of Tajikistan contained in the Report of the Working Party. She invited the General 
Council to approve the draft Protocol of Accession of  Tajikistan as contained in this Report and, in 
accordance with the Decision-Making Procedures under Articles IX and XII of the WTO Agreement agreed in November 1995 (WT/L/93), to adopt the draft Decision on the Accession of Tajikistan as 
contained in the Report
2, and the Report of the Working Party as a whole in documents 
WT/ACC/TJK/30 and Add.1 and 2. 
1.5.  The General Council so agreed. 
1.6.  The Chairperson said it was with great pleasu re that she welcomed the Decision just taken on 
the Accession of the Republic of Tajikistan to the WTO. She also wished to extend her 
congratulations to President Rahmon, to the First Deputy Prime Minister, to the Minister of 
Economic Development and Trade and his entire team, together with the people and Government 
of Tajikistan, on the successful completion of th e WTO process. Accession to the WTO was a long 
and complex process, but she felt all would agree that the final package reflected the constructive spirit with which the Members and Tajikistan had participated in the process. Only a few weeks 
earlier, the General Council had approved the terms of accession of another candidate country, Lao 
PDR. She was pleased to inform Members that the National Assembly of Lao PDR had fully endorsed the accession package on 6 December. Earlier in the year, four new Members had joined 
the WTO community – Montenegro, Samoa, the Russian Federation and Vanuatu. The Decision just 
taken on the accession of Tajikistan was another si gn of the world's confidence in the WTO and the 
multilateral trading system. She strongly believed that through its future membership in the WTO, 
Tajikistan would have a stable and predictable framework for economic engagement with other 
nations, which would boost trade, growth and prosperity. With regard to the further steps towards Tajikistan's formal entry as a WTO Member, the ceremony for the signature of the Protocol of Accession would be held that afternoon followin g the present meeting. The Government of the 
Republic of Tajikistan would then submit the Protocol for ratification by its legislative assembly. In 
keeping with WTO provisions, the Republic of Tajikistan would become a Member of the WTO 30 days following the date of its ratification of the Protocol. She then invited Mr Emomali Rahmon, 
President of the Republic of Tajikistan, to address the Council. 
                                               
2 Subsequently circulated in WT/L/872. WT/GC/M/140 
 
- 3 - 
 
  1.7.  H.E. Mr Emomali Rahmon, President of th e Republic of Tajikistan, said that sometimes 
landmark events took place in the history of a nation which played a decisive role in its future life.  
The date of 10 December 2012 was marked as the most remarkable day in the latest history of independent Tajikistan and laid down solid ground for further promotion of sustainable socio-
economic development in the country. 
1.8.  He wished, first and foremost, to express sincere gratitude to Tajikistan’s friends and 
economic cooperation partners in WTO, who had supported and stood side-by-side with his 
country along this long and challenging road to accession.  He wished to thank also the Secretariat 
and the Director-General for the continued and indeed tangible support given in this direction. At the same time, on behalf of the proud Tajik people, he wished to extend profound gratitude to the donor countries and international organizations for their valuable financial and technical 
assistance. It was precisely their support and assistance that allowed his country to bring its trade 
system into compliance with the international trading rules.  His country looked forward to continuing mutually beneficial and productive cooperation in this area. 
1.9.  The Republic of Tajikistan had submitted an  application to join the World Trade Organization 
11 years previously. He believed it was one of the firm and logically right steps forward in a transition of his country to a market economy system. Over this time, the Tajik Government had 
undertaken series of steps and commitments with a view to bringing the legislation of the country 
in line with the norms and the regulations of the WTO. The people and the Government of Tajikistan very much appreciated their country’s membership of the WTO. The principles of the 
WTO, particularly the mutual respect of rights and transparency in relations, were consistent with 
the principles of the Republic of Tajikistan. 
1.10.  The Government of Tajikistan had a strong po litical will and commitment to the transition to 
a market economy, which fully complied with the global economy. Reforms that it had carried out 
with the guidance and assistance of the Secretariat in legislation and in the economic sector thus 
far, aimed at integration with the multilateral trading system, had ultimately enabled his country to integrate confidently in the world economy and the global trading system. These initiatives had 
created an open, transparent and non-discriminatory environment for domestic and foreign trade 
activities. 
1.11.  Tajikistan’s major strategic goals were to  achieve energy independence, food security and 
to tackle the communication deadlock challenges it faced as a land-locked country. In order to 
attain these goals, Tajikistan had embarked on a process of domestic economic reforms and 
modernization. The immediate objectives of this process had been the establishment of a market economy, an investment-friendly environment, an d integration in the global economy. The WTO 
accession process had been a major instrument for pursuing these objectives. This process had 
helped Tajikistan to implement internationally-recognized best practices and the norms of international trade, and had strengthened the country’s institutional capacity. 
1.12.  However, his country considered WTO accessi on as merely the beginning of a long process. 
The Republic of Tajikistan, as a full-fledged member, would comply fully with its accession commitments and the WTO provisions. Tajikistan was equally prepared to participate fully and 
effectively in the day-to-day business of the WTO.  Tajikistan also looked forward to working with 
Members in a constructive manner and to further developing its relationship with the Organization. 
1.13.  He wished to assure Members that Tajikistan intended to use its WTO membership as a 
vehicle for fostering the future economic growth  and prosperity of the people of the country. 
Specific arrangements were already being undertaken in this direction and it intended to host a 
Trade and Investment Conference in 2013 which wo uld reinforce the positive effects of market 
liberalization and send a clear signal to the international community that Tajikistan was open for 
business and economic cooperation. In addition, it should also be pointed out that Tajikistan was 
impatiently looking forward to its membership of the WTO and that it was set to continue its domestic economic reforms based on the terms co ntained in the accession package documents. He 
wished to reaffirm that the accession package documents in general were consistent with the 
development interests of his country. 
1.14.  He wished to conclude by saying that  increased cooperation with the international 
community and integration in the multilateral trading system were vital for rapidly-growing WT/GC/M/140 
 
- 4 - 
 
  economy of Tajikistan. Consensus decision-making was one of the distinctive specifics and the 
major sources of strength of the WTO. On his own behalf and on behalf of the whole Tajik people, he wished to extend sincere appreciation and gratitude to all member states for their unanimous support of Tajikistan’s accession to WTO. 
1.15.  The Director-General said that on behalf of the WTO, he extended a warm welcome to the 
President, the First Deputy Prime Minister and the entire team of skilled negotiators of Tajikistan. 
At the present meeting, the Republic of Tajikistan  was acceding under the able leadership of the 
President, and that of the Prime Minister, and the Minister and Vice Minister of Economic 
Development and Trade. The President's statement reflected the importance which rapidly growing economies attached to WTO membership. The President's personal dedication had been critical to the successful outcome to these negotiations. On this important occasion, he also wished to pay 
tribute to the entire WTO membership. Accession negotiations were invariably complex. And, in a 
consensus-based system, every successful accession negotiation – and enlargement of the WTO family – stood as testament to the strength of th e Organization. With the accession of the Republic 
of Tajikistan, the WTO had moved closer to universality. 
1.16.  The Republic of Tajikistan was a rapi dly growing economy. In 2011, it had seen its 
international trade, which amounted to over US$5 billion, grow at the impressive rate of near 20 
per cent. Tajikistan was an economy of strategic importance to its region, and to the 
Commonwealth of Independent States. It was his sincere hope that Tajikistan's WTO membership would translate into greater growth and jobs. As Director-General, he was pleased that, at the present meeting, Members had decided to incorpor ate the Republic of Tajikistan into the WTO 
"family". In completing its accession, and committing to an impressive set of economic and trade 
reforms, Tajikistan was sending a clear signal to all its partners that it was willing to play by global rules. Foreign investors would be reassured by  the applicability of the WTO's familiar and 
predictable rules-based system and would know that Tajikistan was now "open for business". He 
wished also to express his appreciation for th e work done by Ambassador Clyde Kull, who had 
skillfully shepherded this negotiation to its conclu sion as Chairman of the Working Party. Finally, 
he had been told that Tajikistan was a country of poets – a unique tradition where entire 
conversations could take place in verse.  It would be fitting, therefore, to conclude his remarks with an old Tajik proverb:  "a big family is a rich family". He wished a warm welcome to Tajikistan – Khush omadéd ba Sozmóni Jakhoníi Sávdo! ("Welcome to the WTO!") 
1.17.  The representatives of China, European Unio n (also on behalf of Croatia), Kyrgyz Republic, 
Dominican Republic (on behalf of the Informal Group of Developing Countries), United States, 
Panama (on behalf of GRULAC), Saudi Arabia (on be half of the Arab Group), Ukraine, Switzerland, 
Chinese Taipei (on behalf of the RAMs group), Tu rkey, Japan, Paraguay (also on behalf of the 
Group of Landlocked Developing Countries), Bang ladesh (on behalf of the LDC Group), Korea, 
India, Brazil, Nepal, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Sing apore, Israel and New Zealand welcomed the 
delegation of Tajikistan, congratulated Tajikistan's team of negotiators, Government and people on 
this historic event, commended the Working Party Chairman for his leadership and the Secretariat 
for its hard work to make this effort successful, and looked forward to welcoming and working with Tajikistan as a Member. 
1.18.  The representative of China said his delegation was delighted to see that 12 years of 
accession negotiations had borne fruit for Tajikistan. The Government of Tajikistan should be 
commended for a record conclusion of ten bilate ral market-access negotiations within six weeks – 
a record that would be hard to match. Members had been impressed by Tajikistan's commitment 
to and efforts in its accession process and ho w much the country valued its envisaged WTO 
membership. That objective had now been achieved, and Tajikistan should take great pride in this 
great achievement. 
1.19.  The representative of the European Union said the EU was happy to join the consensus to 
approve Tajikistan's terms of accession to the WTO and pleased to welcome Tajikistan as the 
159th Member of the WTO family. After Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan was the second Central Asian 
country to join the WTO. By supporting the country’s economic diversification, the EU had taken 
the lead in accompanying Tajikistan during its accession process. The EU would continue to promote and boost trade and investment relations with Tajikistan and to ensure its fully-fledged 
integration into the multilateral trading system. Tajikistan had worked hard to prepare for WTO 
membership and to make the changes needed in its domestic legal and regulatory system. As part of its accession commitments, Tajikistan had agreed to further liberalize its trade regime and WT/GC/M/140 
 
- 5 - 
 
  accelerate its integration into the world economy. The country had also pledged to provide a 
transparent and predictable environment for trade and foreign investment. All its efforts to promote economic reform were now rewarded. Tajikistan's accession would serve as a major engine for Central Asia’s economic development and reform. The EU hoped that other countries in 
that region would follow that reform path and could soon fully participate in the multilateral 
trading system. 
1.20.  The representative of the Kyrgyz Republic said that as a brother nation, his country shared 
Tajikistan's pride and joy in celebrating this landmark event. It also congratulated the Director-
General on the expansion of the WTO family and wi th the growing presence of the WTO in Central 
Asia. Kyrgyzstan firmly supported the accession of Tajikistan as a full-fledged member in the global community of free trade. It hoped that WTO membership would bring Tajikistan new 
opportunities for sustainable socio-economic development, and that the Government of Tajikistan 
would seize those opportunities and translate them into the benefits for Tajikistan and its people. 
As a fellow Central Asian country, the Kyrgyz Republic believed that Tajikistan’s membership would 
give additional impetus to further development of th eir close bilateral economic relations as well as 
help advance regional cooperation and integration. Kyrgyzstan wished Tajikistan all the best in its membership in the multilateral trading system. 
1.21.  The representative of the Dominican Re public, on behalf of the Informal Group of 
Developing Countries, said that the Group, which also had the membership of countries that were 
still acceding to the Organization, had been a flagship in favour of entry into the rules-based 
multilateral trading system and had supported all of those countries that were part of the 
international community of nations – supporting the position that solely technical criteria should be 
those required for accession to the Organization. 
1.22.  The representative of the United States said the presence of President Rahmon at the 
present meeting clearly underscored the importance this country attached to the WTO. The United 
States had supported Tajikistan’s bid for WTO Membership from its outset in 2001, in the bilateral and multilateral negotiations for the terms of its accession that followed, and through 
comprehensive technical assistance to its team in Dushanbe. Tajikistan’s efforts to open its market 
and to implement WTO provisions had been extrao rdinary, reflecting the basic decision made 
earlier to use the WTO accession process as a catalyst for economic reform, and providing an excellent example of the link between WTO a ccessions and domestic reforms. Through its 
accession process, Tajikistan had repealed trade barriers and enacted, as had been noted, more 
than 100 separate pieces of legislation and regu lation to apply WTO Agreements directly in its 
legal framework. These reforms, extending from  corporate registration and transparency to 
taxation, standards and technical regulations, customs measures, intellectual property protection, 
and import licensing, would transform Tajiki stan’s economy and lay a permanent basis for 
e c o n o m i c  g r o w t h  a n d  d e v e l o p m e n t .  T a j i k i s t a n ’ s  h a r d  w o r k  a n d  f o c u s e d  e f f o r t  t o  a c c e l e r a t e  i t s  
accession process had paid off, and the US wholeheartedly supported the General Council’s 
approval of this application for WTO Membership . His delegation congratulated Tajikistan and 
looked forward to working with it as a Member of the WTO. 
1.23.  The representative of Panama, on behalf of GRULAC, said that with the adoption of the 
accession documents, and with the prompt accession of Tajikistan as a full-fledged member of the 
WTO, this Organization had taken an important step towards universal membership.  The Group wished to pay tribute to the enormous work that had been accomplished by all those who had 
made it possible to adopt the Protocol, and it l ooked forward with pleasure to working together 
constructively with Tajikistan in the near future. 
1.24.  The representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on behalf of the Arab Group, said the 
presence of President Rahmon at the present meeting was a testimony to the importance that 
Tajikistan gave to the WTO and the multilateral trading system. The Group was fully confident that the accession of Tajikistan would strengthen the multilateral trading system by integrating an 
important and vibrant economy in the international tr ading order.  It looked forward to working in 
a collaborative manner with Tajikistan delegation. 
1.25.  The representative of Ukraine said his count ry had been following this accession very closely 
and was happy it was becoming effective. Ukraine and Tajikistan had long-standing friendly 
relations, co-operation and good mutual understanding, and long and in many cases family ties 
between their peoples. Ukraine understood the dept h and seriousness of problems Tajikistan had WT/GC/M/140 
 
- 6 - 
 
  encountered over the past two decades on its road to independence in finding its rightful place on 
the world trade map and building a better life for its people, living in extremely difficult conditions of a landlocked mountainous area and ruined wo rld economy. Ukraine commended the efforts the 
President, the Government and Parliament had been making to build a sustainable and happier 
future for their country. WTO accession was a firm and significant step forward in this direction. 
During the accession period, Tajikistan had made considerable changes to its legislation thus creating a more predictable framework and legal certainty for trade, at the same time opening a 
window of opportunity for the de velopment of growth through trade. Ukraine wished these great, 
hard-working people, with ancient history, success in building their new and prosperous future. By making a step forward, even though at times it might be a small step, but a daily one, they would 
be moving and becoming stronger by overcoming difficulties.  His delegation hoped that in the 
WTO, they would find sustainable partners an d friends who would support their development 
aspirations by assisting in the implementation of trade policy. 
1.26.  The representative of Switzerland said it had been a long journey from the establishment of 
the Working Party in 2001 to the present meetin g. The accession package before the Council 
reflected the intensive reform process that the Repu blic of Tajikistan had shouldered over the past 
years and would continue to pursue.  Tajikistan had clearly demonstrated its willingness to 
participate in global trade in its commitment to market economy, transparency and rule of law.  
Switzerland was confident that all these efforts would generate a positive return which would benefit the further development of Tajikistan. Switzerland and Tajikistan enjoyed excellent 
relations. Switzerland had supported Tajikistan's accession process from the very beginning, 
including trade-related technical assistance, in particular, through several infrastructure projects, 
private sector promotion programmes, aiding the financial sector and trade promotion projects. Switzerland was happy to see and enjoy the fruits  of this co-operation.  Working with such a 
committed partner had proved to be highly efficient. 
1.27.  Switzerland remained committed to workin g with Tajikistan by providing assistance 
concerning the implementation of WTO provisions, as well as concerning other issues regarding the 
post accession process.  The overall goal was to enable Tajikistan to take full advantage of its 
integration into the multilateral trading system.  The close ties and friendships that had been 
developed over the last years of intensive co-operation would serve as a strong basis ensuring that this continued co-operation became a success. The conclusion of this accession process was also of 
systemic importance.  For Switzerland, the success and efficiency of the multilateral trading 
system depended on a membership as universal as possible.  The accession of Tajikistan was therefore important for the well-functioning of the multilateral trading system.  With this 
accession, WTO was again getting another step closer to universality. Finally, he assured the 
delegation of Tajikistan that Switzerland was look ing forward to fruitful co-operation with it, now 
from inside WTO. 
1.28.  The representative of Chinese Taipei, on behalf of the RAMs Group, said the Group was 
pleased to give its support to the adoption of Ta jikistan's accession to the WTO. This was a very 
important moment for Tajikistan as well as for the WTO.  Each accession not only helped the economy of the acceding country to become more integrated into the multilateral trading system, 
but it also enriched the organization in terms of  adding to its universality. The RAMs Group had 
always been supportive of new accessions to the WTO and it recognized that Tajikistan's membership would encourage others and contribute to the positive momentum. It was looking 
forward to working closely and constructively with  Tajikistan as fellow Members in the future. 
1.29.  On behalf of Chinese Taipei, he wished to echo the words of all other Members in giving his 
delegation's wholehearted support to the adoption  of Tajikistan's accession to the WTO. It was 
11 years since Tajikistan first applied to join the WTO in 2001.  During that time, both in bilateral 
and plurilateral meetings, his delegation had been enormously impressed by Tajikistan's strong will 
and commitment to becoming a WTO Member. And today, at this historical moment, his delegation was pleased to have the opportunity of congratulating the Tajikistan government on its great 
efforts and on successfully completing the accession process. His delegation looked forward to 
working with Tajikistan as a fellow Member in near future. 
1.30.  The representative of Turkey said the pr esence of President Rahmon in Geneva was the 
ultimate manifestation of the importance Tajikist an attached to WTO membership. This major step 
had been taken not only by Tajikistan. With this membership, Members had also made a further step towards a universal WTO. Turkey, as a member of the Working Party, had witnessed the WT/GC/M/140 
 
- 7 - 
 
  strong determination, hard work and constructive approach on the Tajikistan side throughout the 
accession talks. He was sure that Tajikistan would fulfil its extensive commitments with the same attitude, keeping in mind that WTO membership ensured a predictable and transparent trade and business environment. He also hoped that Tajikistan’s membership would help raise further 
awareness among business communities in Central Asia about the WTO. Finally, Turkey looked 
forward to the prompt ratification of the accession  package in Tajikistan, with a view to formally 
becoming a Member as soon as possible. 
1.31.  The representative of Japan said that th e accession of the Republic of Tajikistan would 
certainly promote its economic growth and ex pand trade. Japan and Tajikistan had been 
continuously building and deepening friendship through their comprehensive partnership. On the occasion of the Fourth Foreign Ministerial meeting of "Central Asia plus Japan Dialogue" in Tokyo 
the previous November, their foreign Ministers had met and had agreed to further strengthen their 
partnership. Japan would continue to support the development of Tajikistan, as well as strengthening regional cooperation in Central Asia. And his delegation also looked forward to 
working with the delegation of Tajikistan in Geneva. 
1.32.  The representative of Paraguay said his delegation wished to stress the dynamic work that 
had been done in the Working Party and through the Secretariat, which together with the flexibility 
shown by Members and by the Government of Tajikistan, had made it possible for Members to 
have reached this point, having accomplished their task which was none other than to have Tajikistan as a fully-fledged Member, with the certainty that this would be a step towards its growth and the greater well-being of the people of Tajikistan. 
1.33.  On behalf of the Group of Landlocked Developing Countries, he wished to stress the 
importance of the conclusion of this process as it was a fundamental element for economic 
integration of these countries into the world economy.  The Group wished to express its willingness 
to support Tajikistan so that it could fully take advantage of the system.  Tajikistan's achievements 
in the system were achievements for each and ev ery one of the Group's countries.  And this would 
bear witness to the Group's confidence that multilateral efforts could help landlocked countries 
overcome the disadvantages that they had inherited from their geographical situation. 
1.34.  The representative of Bangladesh, on behalf  of the LDC Group, said the LDCs would be very 
happy to work with Tajikistan for the cherished common objective of seeing the multilateral 
trading system in the driving seat of world trade, with development in its core. The Group believed 
that the accession of Tajikistan was the manifestation of the increasing relevance of the 
multilateral trading system in taking care of the LDCs' common interest in trade and development. 
1.35.  The representative of Korea said that this was a historic day for Tajikistan. Tajikistan had 
applied for accession to the WTO in May 2001. Korea had no doubt that the accession of Tajikistan 
to the WTO would be beneficial not only for Tajikistan, but also for the multilateral trading system as a whole. The approval of Tajikistan’s accession was particularly meaningful, as the accession 
package contained a set of commendable commitments. They were remarkable and exemplary for 
other countries acceding to this Organization. Tajikistan was a significant economic partner for Korea. The volume of bilateral trade in 2011 exceeded US$100 million, which was over 10 times larger than that of ten years ago. Direct investme nt had been made from Korea to Tajikistan in the 
amount of US$60 million so far, mostly in the manufacturing sector. With full Membership for 
Tajikistan, Korea expected that the already close economic relationship it had with Tajikistan would be strengthened even further in the future. 
1.36.  The representative of India said that as a consistent supporter of Tajikistan’s accession, 
India was happy to see Tajikistan join the WTO. India appreciated all the hard work that had gone 
into making this a reality and applauded Tajikistan’s commitment to the multilateral trading 
system. As a developing country, India fully understood the challenges involved and commended 
Tajikistan for the extensive legislative and regulatory reforms it had undertaken to bring its policies into compliance with WTO requirements. Tajikistan was a key partner of India in the Central Asian region. The two countries shared cl ose and friendly ties marked by multifaceted 
cooperation in a number of areas. During the recent visit of President Rahmon to India in 
September, the two sides had agreed to elevate this  relationship to a strategic partnership. India 
now looked forward to working with Tajikistan in the WTO on issues of common interest. It 
recognized that considerable work lay ahead of Tajikistan. As part of its accession accord, 
Tajikistan had agreed to undertake a series of important commitments to further open up its trade WT/GC/M/140 
 
- 8 - 
 
  regime. India was confident that Tajikistan would continue on the path of economic reform and 
wished the Government of Tajikistan every succe ss in its future endeavours to accelerate its 
integration in to the world economy. 
1.37.  The representative of Brazil said Tajikist an's accession was a significant event that would 
strengthen the multilateral trading system. In th e task of implementing the accession package, 
Tajikistan could continue counting on constructive support from Brazil. 
1.38.  The representative of Nepal said his dele gation supported the statement by Paraguay for 
the Landlocked Developing Countries. This was a special day for Tajikistan and for all other 
Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and the entire membership of WTO, as the accession package of Tajikistan was endorsed. This was the happy landing after a more than 11 years long tireless and rigorous journey. This underlined the solid and constant commitment that Tajikistan 
had demonstrated in the rule-based multilateral trading system. Tajikistan had shown maximum 
flexibility in all bilateral negotiations, thirteen in goods and six in services, and had undertaken substantial reforms in the accession process. Now it was up to the international community to fully 
respond to its new member by extending continued support to its development process. Tajikistan 
and Nepal, both mountainous, landlocked countries, had common constraints and challenges in their trade and development endeavours. Nepal believed that Tajikistan's membership would 
provide synergy to the LLDCs to push their commo n agenda in future negotiations. Nepal wished 
Tajikistan all the best for the completion of the final ratification procedures. Accession to the WTO 
had always been a demanding and challenging process for the acceding countries and this accession was a testimony to that. Acceding countries had to wait for years despite their firm 
commitment to the rule-based multilateral tr ading system. All Members should honour the 
legitimate expectation of acceding countries that the accession process become less cumbersome and more facilitative and that no demand was made on them beyond that which their level of 
development warranted. 
1.39.  The representative of Mexico welcomed Tajikistan as a Member, and said that this accession 
meant that the WTO was again taking a step towards being a universal Organization. Mexico 
congratulated President Rahmon for the economic reforms he had introduced over recent years, 
which had framed his country's accession and its rapid economic growth.  
1.40.  The General Council took note of the st atements and of the expressions of welcome and 
support. 
__________