STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Thursday, 17 January 2013

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34. Tajikistan tries WTO for prosperity path

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/OA18Ag01.html

Tajikistan's recent accession to the World Trade Organization has been mostly driven by its government's desperate attempts to attract foreign investment to its remittance dependent economy, while potential greater economic benefits for the country remain uncertain.

Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon signed the accession deal in Geneva on December 10, 2012, and the lower house of Tajik parliament was reported on January 9 to have ratified the deal and fast-tracked it to the upper house for final approval to complete the internal ratification procedure, which is expected to finish by April.

Tajik leaders seem upbeat on their country's imminent membership of the world trading body. Rakhoman hailed the move


as a "landmark event" in his country's history, while Minister of Economic Development and Trade Sharif Rahimzoda forecasts "increased trade and prosperity" for the impoverished and landlocked country.

WTO officials led by chairman Pascal Lamy were keen to welcome Tajikistan as the organization's 159th member and expressed hope that Tajikistan's accession would translate into greater growth and more jobs for the country. They believe that WTO membership will accelerate necessary economic reforms in the country and will "send a clear signal to all its partners that Tajikistan is willing to play by global rules".