Afghanistan Times
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By Akhtar M. Nikzad-KABUL: The Wolesi Jirga of parliament approved Saturday the accession package to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Earlier in 2003, the government had proposed membership for the WTO which was accepted as overseer in 2004.
The WTO accepted membership of Afghanistan in December 2015, asking Afghan government to finalize the legal process of its membership up to end of June 2016.
The accession protocol was signed between WTO’s director general Roberto Azevedo and first deputy chief executive Mohammad Khan Rahmani in 20015.
Lawmakers approved Afghanistan trade membership to WTO with majority.
They termed accessibility of Afghanistan in the WTO an effective measure for expiation of tread dealing with world.
So far, Afghanistan has 96 per cent import and six per cent export with the neighboring countries that make various problems with Pakistan.
Mozammel Shinwari, deputy minister of commerce and industries said Afghanistan would be able to get considerable advantages from international markets.
“The agreement will enable Afghan businessmen to have access in the 162 countries of the world and start trade dealing with signing any agreements,” said Shinwari.
He added that no members of the WTO would make restrictions for Afghan traders.
He termed utilization from international roads, repealing of custom tariff against Afghan exports to Europe, India, China, and the USA as the great advantage of the agreement with WTO.
Shinwari underlined that membership would give an international credibility to Afghanistan and will pave the ground to encourage the foreign investment inside the country.
“Still Afghan government cannot meet some conditions of WTO and we demanded 10 years respite from the organization. It is approval and amendments of economical laws,” he lamented.
So far, 162 countries are permanent members of WTO.
The WTO was established in 1995 at aiming to strengthen the trade dealings across the world with a judgment and legal facilities. Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan are in the negotiation stage with WTO.
