A video conference meeting on the issues of Turkmenistan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) took place on Thursday, Turkmen Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
The Turkmen delegation included the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Vepa Hajiyev, heads and representatives of a number of ministries and departments of the country. Maika Oshikawa, Director of the Accessions Division of the WTO, headed the WTO delegation.
The meeting participants exchanged views on further steps that the Turkmen side will take as a WTO observer. The officials noted that the observer status of Turkmenistan is an important first step towards joining the WTO, and the Turkmen side will make the best use of the observation period for deep acquaintance with the organization and its activities, and for starting the negotiations on becoming full-fledged member of the organization, according to the statement.
In her speech, Maika Oshikawa once again congratulated the Turkmen side on obtaining the WTO observer status and informed about the letter from the WTO Director General addressed to the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov.
The participants also considered a number of priority issues regarding the continuation of work to expand cooperation between Turkmenistan and the WTO and further strengthen the bilateral partnership with this organization. The participation of Turkmenistan in the WTO will contribute to the internal and external economic activities of the country, as well as create new opportunities for attracting investor, said the Turkmen Foreign Ministry in the statement.
Turkmenistan was granted the WTO observer status on July 22.
