The program of Assistance to Tajikistan follows a request from the Government of Tajikistan for assistance throughout the period of Accession of the Republic of Tajikistan to WTO. The objectives of the program are to provide in-depth practical capacity building through inputs from specialized institutions dealing with international trade and specific WTO-related issues. The program will provide in-country training as well as overseas training for specialists in specific sectors relating to their areas of responsibility. This is also with a view not only to assisting the Republic to accede to the WTO, but most importantly, to having a core staff that would be responsible for the implementation of the agreements.

The programme of assistance to Tajikistan has been provided through the design of a comprehensive capacity building programme. It provides an in-depth appreciation of the WTO accession process to the government officials, the private sector, Parliament and academia. It also discusses issues dealing with multilateral and bilateral trade, the introduction to the conformity requirements of bilateral and preferential agreements with WTO rules.

The programme is aimed to increase resources and knowledge regarding the rules and regulations that govern multilateral trade. It will also enhance the skills of participants in designing the appropriate policies that can attract investment and promote trade. In parallel to tailor-made training activities the programme will also provide international consultants to assist with the drafting of the memorandum and if necessary assist in drafting various agreements, as required by the Government.

Seco has decided to provide the amount of USD 1 million for the whole duration of the first phase of the project till 2004. United Nations Training Institute (UNITAR) was an implementing agency for the project till recently.

For the continued assistance, Geneva based IDEAS Int. was attracted. Needs assessment mission took place in June 2005, and a Memorandum of Understanding on Phase III of the project was signed in September 2005. As proposed phase III will run for 30 months and will cost a maximum of US $ 1.5 million.

The overarching goals of the project with IDEAS Int. will be (i) to facilitate Tajikistan’s re-integration into the multilateral trading system, as a mean to foster trade and investment with its regional and global partners and (ii) to build up a development conducive trade policy. To this end, the project is advising the Government with regard to the adequate measures in the economic and trade related fields to facilitate Tajikistan’s successful accession to the WTO and assists the Government build up a trade policy capacity able to address the major trade related development issues Tajikistan is facing.