WT/MIN(17)/ST/86  
 
4 January 2018  
(18-0053) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR S. ZHANAR AITZHANOVA  
AMBASSADOR PERMANENT  REPRESENTATIVE TO TH E WTO  
KAZAKHSTAN  
On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan I would like to reaffirm my country’s 
strong belief in and support to the Multilateral Trading System.  
 
Kazakhstan became the Member of the WTO exactly two years ago, 30 November 2015. Having 
recen tly completed very lengthy (almost 20 years) and challenging WTO accession negotiations, 
Kazakhstan places great expectations on this organization and on benefits it can provide to our 
country’s pursuit under the leadership of President Nazarbayev of integ ration into the rules based 
global trading system.   
 
At the previous Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kazakhstan welcomed a milestone decision on 
Export Competition and looks forward to its full and timely implementation by Members.  This is, 
indeed, of g enuine  interest to Kazakhstan, since, as part of our accession package, we had to 
eliminate export subsidies from day one, despite being a land locked country.  Now, we are looking 
for a level playing field.     
 
However, lately, by virtue of witnessing de adlocks in various negotiation tracks, we became 
increasingly concerned about the future of this organization. Therefore, w e strongly believe it is 
high time to get out of comfort zones and address the challenges of new reality.   
 
This is especially impor tant in the current rapidly changing economic environment. We cannot 
afford to postpone discussions around new emerging issues at the expense of old unresolved ones. 
Otherwise, this organization is in danger of becoming irrelevant to modern day reality.      
 
In this regard, Kazakhstan welcomes and commends efforts made by an increasing number of 
WTO members to start discussion on a set of new issues, such as e -commerce for development, 
investment facilitation, MSMEs and improvements in transparency require ments, as well as 
reinvigorated negotiations over Domestic Regulation in services. We believe that this 
comprehensive approach is better fit to address the concerns of Article XII Members and ultimately 
bring the members closer to achieving the level playi ng field.  
 
Now, I would like to touch upon issues of utmost importance for Kazakhstan.  
 
First, on Services , Kazakhstan would welcome the adoption of the Domestic Regulation Disciplines 
aimed at ensuring greater transparency and predictability of authoriza tion regulation applied in 
services market by WTO Members.   
 
In fact, Domestic Regulation Disciplines are in line with Kazakhstan’s WTO accession commitments 
on transparency of licensing procedures, simplification of administrative measures and 
requirements in the services sector. The same objectives can be reached globally by adoption of 
Domestic Regulation disciplines within WTO legal framework.  
 
Second, on investment facilitation, Kazakhstan also supports the discussions aimed at improving 
the investment climate.  
 WT/MIN(17)/ST/86  
 
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  Kazakhstan’s economy is greatly benefiting from foreign direct investment and transfer of 
technologies, which we strongly believe is contributing to economic diversification and growth in 
my country.  In Kazakhstan’s legal framework  there is no distinction between foreign and domestic 
investors, meaning that all preferences as well as liabilities are applied equally in a non -
discriminatory manner.  
 
Third, on E -Commerce, Kazakhstan as a land locked country is currently pursuing an amb itious 
Digitalization Program, which would cover all sectors of economy and impact various aspects of 
social live. Therefore, Kazakhstan recognizes the important role WTO could play in promoting 
open, transparent, non -discriminatory and predictable regulat ory environment for development of 
e-commerce . 
 
In conclusion, I once again would like to urge members to engage constructively in the discussions 
of the abovementioned new issues to allow us to rip the benefits of the multilateral trading system 
in a time ly and efficient manner, and make the WTO relevant to reality.    
 
 
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