Pakistan expands shipping fleet with greener technology
Pakistan is upgrading its shipping fleet to improve efficiency, cut freight costs, and adopt cleaner maritime technologies....
Uzbekistan is preparing to bring its companies to global markets. The country is one step away from joining the World Trade Organization.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has instructed the government to accelerate Uzbekistan’s accession to the World Trade Organization. He has called for the adoption of about 15 regulatory acts and updates to several key laws. Officials have also been told to finish talks with nine WTO member countries that Uzbekistan hasn’t negotiated with before, by the end of this year.
Uzbekistan entered the active phase of WTO accession in 2023. Since then, there have been four Working Group meetings, where experts addressed over 500 issues. Bilateral negotiations were held with 33 countries, and 24 of those have already been successfully concluded.
As part of the preparation, significant work has been done to align national legislation with WTO standards. This includes the adoption of 13 new laws, 10 presidential decrees and resolutions, 19 Cabinet resolutions, and 10 interdepartmental regulations. In a major shift, the exclusive rights of six state-owned enterprises have also been eliminated.
The WTO currently includes 166 member countries and governs about 98% of global trade. Uzbekistan’s membership application is still under review. Accession talks actually began in 1994, but were put on hold and only resumed in 2020.
Experts say WTO membership could significantly boost the country’s exports, unlocking nearly $6 billion in untapped potential. That includes $600 million each in clothing and fruit exports, and $400 million in cars and auto parts.
The World Bank estimates that joining the WTO could raise Uzbekistan’s GDP by 17% within 5 to 7 years, largely thanks to growth in the service sector. That’s especially important for a landlocked country like Uzbekistan, where service exports can make a big difference.
Historically, accession to the WTO is a lengthy process. China took 15 years, while Russia needed 18. The more complex a country's regulatory system, the longer it usually takes. But Uzbekistan is aiming to finish the process by the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference which scheduled for 2026 in Cameroon.
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
Australian researchers have created a groundbreaking “biological AI” platform that could revolutionise drug discovery by rapidly evolving molecules within mammalian cells.
Australian researchers have pioneered a low-cost and scalable plasma-based method to produce ammonia gas directly from air, offering a green alternative to the traditional fossil fuel-dependent Haber-Bosch process.
A series of earthquakes have struck Guatemala on Tuesday afternoon, leading authorities to advise residents to evacuate from buildings as a precaution against possible aftershocks.
'Superman' continued to dominate the summer box office, pulling in another $57.25 million in its second weekend, as theatres welcome a wave of blockbuster competition following a challenging few years for the film industry.
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Türkiye on Tuesday for an official visit at the invitation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has launched its new Country Partnership Strategy (CPS) for Azerbaijan for 2025–2029, centred on two key pillars: enabling a green and diversified economy, and fostering low-carbon connectivity and inclusive development.
In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with AnewZ, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, a central figure in the 2004 Orange Revolution, asserted that the current full-scale war with Russia is the culmination of a centuries-long struggle for sovereignty.
Laziz Kudratov, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade, held a meeting with Pedro Vargas, CEO of the Portuguese investment firm Alpac Capital and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Euronews, to explore opportunities for expanding cooperation in the financial sector
Opportunities to initiate investment partnerships and expand energy cooperation were discussed during the 8th meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic and Humanitarian Cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment