Technical assistance to Belarus

In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding and the Priority Areas of Cooperation in the Field of International Trade, Investment and Development, signed on 16 July 2007 by the Prime Minister of Belarus, the Secretary General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and UNDP Country Office in Belarus, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with UNDP Office has developed the technical assistance project “Assisting the Government of the Republic of Belarus in Accession to the WTO through Strengthening Institutional Capacity and Expertise”, which was approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 1863 of 29 December 2007.

The objective of the project is to assist the Government of the Republic Belarus in its process of accession to WTO by strengthening the expertise of the national institutions, as well as raising public awareness about the process of the WTO accession.

Project implementation period:

Phase 1 — February 2008 — February 2010,

Phase 2 — March 2010 — May 2012.

The main objectives and outcomes of Phase 1

The first component dealing with organization and conduction of analytical studies related to accession of Belarus to the WTO.

1. Elaboration of analytical study “Possible and optimal for the Republic of Belarus scenarios of regional integration in the light of WTO rules, the impact on the Belarusian export interests of conditions of accessions to the WTO of the Russian Federation and Ukraine ”.

2. Elaboration of analytical study on ways to minimize the possible risks to individual sectors of the economy due to accession of the Republic of Belarus to the WTO.

The second component, which aimed to improve institutional capacity through transferring knowledge and skills necessary during and after Belarus’ accession to the WTO.

1. Within the period from 24 to 29 November 2008 of six experts from Belarus took participation in training activities in the UNCTAD.

2. Two visits of UNCTAD experts in Belarus within the framework of technical and advisory missions.

The third component, related to circulation of information to the business community, and the public about the objectives, benefits and risks of Belarus’ accession to the WTO:

1. Three studies were published (in Russian):

for public servants — “The World Trade Organization: basic activities, procedures, experience of accession”;
for media — «115 issues on the multilateral trading system of GATT/WTO»;
for business community — “The World Trade Organization: the interaction of government and business”.

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2. In 2008-2009, a series of regional seminars-discussions “WTO: principles of action, advantages of accession to economic entities of the Republic of Belarus” were held in Mogilev, Gomel, Brest, Grodno and Vitebsk for representatives of local authorities, business community, including small and medium-sized.

3. The international seminar-discussion “World Trade Organization: the economic and environmental aspects of joining” was held on 23-24 October 2008. Experts from Switzerland, the Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and other states, representatives of governmental bodies, a member of leading universities, and business associations participated in the seminar.

4. International Round Table “The development of trade and export promotion in the modern world: prospects for Belarus” was held in June 18, 2009. Representatives from governmental bodies, leading universities, business community and international organizations (the OSCE, the World Bank, European Commission, etc.) participated in discussions within the round table.

Objectives and outcomes of the Phase 2 of the project

Within the first component of the project “Research and assessment of possible outcomes of Belarus’ accession to the WTO”, national experts have analyzed the national legislative acts (more than 1400 acts) and enforcement practices for the purposes of compliance with WTO rules, and have developed recommendations for possible additions/amendments to the relevant regulations and approaches in the areas of:

foreign economic activity;
taxation system;
the financial sector;
protection of intellectual property rights;
pricing policies;
public procurement;
legislation governing activities in special economic zones, etc.

Within the second component of the project, experts provided for technical assistance in preparation of the revised edition on the Legislative Action Plan of the Republic of Belarus. In November-December 2011, two training workshops (basic and specialized levels) for representatives of government agencies and the scientific community were held in Minsk.

The third component of the project “Raising awareness on the WTO accession process” provided for the preparation and holding in November 2011 of the international round table “Accession to the WTO and regional integration as instruments of Belarus joining the multilateral trading system” with the participation of representatives of concerned government agencies, international organizations, experts, research centers, business associations.

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