Today, UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean and Azizbek Urunov, the Special Representative of the President of Uzbekistan for WTO Issues and Chief Negotiator, signed the National Trade Facilitation Roadmap. This document, developed with UNECE’s methodology, will serve as a strategic framework for Uzbekistan’s trade facilitation reforms over the next five years and support its planned accession to the WTO in 2026.
The Roadmap aligns with the overall strategy of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA), specifically the SPECA Trade Facilitation Strategy and the SPECA Principles for Sustainable Trade. It is part of a larger effort to help Uzbekistan integrate into the global economy and reap its benefits. This includes fostering innovation, improving agricultural trade by reducing regulatory and procedural barriers, and promoting effective public-private partnerships for infrastructure development, according to the UNECE Executive Secretary.
As a Landlocked Developing Country without direct access to the sea, Uzbekistan faces challenges in trade, connectivity, and development. It must rely on transit nations, leading to higher trade costs and delays. UNECE’s legal instruments and standards, particularly the UN/CEFACT package of standards, can aid in digitalization and connectivity along transit corridors.
Uzbekistan aims to become a key gateway for international trade in Central Asia, building a dynamic, efficient, and inclusive trade ecosystem. The country has already achieved a trade facilitation performance of 85%, the highest in Central Asia. It is also working towards digitalization and sustainability in trade facilitation, with a focus on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and women-led businesses.
The Roadmap outlines Uzbekistan’s vision to further enhance exports and gain better access to high-value markets through three main objectives:
– Fully implementing trade facilitation measures outlined in the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement
– Adopting digital documents and data exchange for essential goods imports and exports
– Ranking among the top 50 countries in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index
The Roadmap also details specific actions to achieve these goals, including improving the institutional, legal, and policy framework, streamlining trade procedures, leveraging technology for digitalization, promoting sustainable and inclusive trade, and building capacity.