Business news

MINSK, 25 October (BelTA) – A series of roundtable sessions on Belarus’ accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) will end in Minsk on 2 November, BelTA learned from Anatoly Glaz, Head of the Information and Digital Diplomacy Office, Press Secretary of the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on 25 October.

According to the source, a series of regional roundtable sessions began on 16 October to discuss Belarus’ WTO accession with representatives of the private sector. Meetings have been held with representatives of the business circles in Vitebsk Oblast, Mogilev Oblast, and Mogilev Oblast. The roundtable sessions have yet to take place in Brest and Grodno. The series will end in Minsk on 2 November.

The series has been arranged by the United Nations Development Program in association with the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The discussions focus on topical aspects of the negotiation process, advantages and risks of WTO membership, rules of the game in conditions of a multilateral trade system. Concrete examples of Kazakhstan’s and Russia’s cooperation with the World Trade Organization are discussed.

Taking part in the roundtable sessions are representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the scientific and academic community, regional government agencies, companies, and higher education institutions of Belarus as well as experts from Kazakhstan and Russia.

Belarus is in negotiations on joining the World Trade Organizations. Protocols have been signed with 19 countries. Negotiations with seven countries are still in progress. The final decision on Belarus’ joining the WTO will be made after the relevant aspects of the move are thoroughly analyzed and taking into account the country’s interests.