During his visit to the USA, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also held a meeting with the Secretary General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ngozi-Okonjo Iweala. The main topic of the conversation was Uzbekistan's efforts towards joining the WTO and the progress of the process.
After the meeting, Iveala expressed a very positive opinion. He noted that the reforms in Uzbekistan and the support provided by the President have dramatically accelerated the process.
"Uzbekistan's economy is growing by almost 6% per year. This figure is twice the global growth rate of 3 percent. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the efforts being made in the country," the Secretary General said.
According to him, negotiations are proceeding very actively, and the process is almost complete. A working group meeting is scheduled for November, and the completion of the main stages is planned by March. If everything goes according to plan, Uzbekistan may be officially admitted as a full member of the WTO in 2026.
Iveala also praised the team of Uzbek negotiators. "The team is working very hard. The leadership of President Mirziyoyev and the support of Ms. Saida Mirziyoyeva are further strengthening the process," he added.
At the same time, the Secretary General acknowledged that the process was not going smoothly. According to him, although almost all bilateral negotiations have been completed, issues related to the US remain open. "This is one of the most important and serious areas, but efforts will continue. We have good intentions," Iveala said.
Thus, it becomes even clearer that Uzbekistan's long-held dream of joining the WTO can be realized in the near future.
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