World Monitor Magazine, №1/2020 WM_March 2020_FOR WEB (12.03.) | Page 29

DESTINATION europe
Enterprises. The dispute settlement
mechanism under the EPCA is much
quicker than the WTO mechanism.
As part of the EU Central Asia Strategy
adopted last year, we have launched
new regional programmes to promote
regional trade, enhance business
competitiveness,
and
improve
business environment and the rule of
law. Our implementing partners are
the International Trade Centre, the
OECD and the Council of Europe.
In June 2020, all eyes in the
global trade community will be on
Kazakhstan, as it will chair and host
the World Trade Organisation (WTO)
Ministerial Conference. The EU backed
Kazakhstan's WTO accession and now
calls on Kazakhstan, in its role as host
to champion a multilateral approach to
solve trade disputes. We are committed
to a strong, open and fair trade agenda.
Partnering for Prosperity
The
EU-Kazakhstan
Cooperation
Council – the steering body of the
EPCA – met in the end of January in
Brussels. Last September, the EU-
Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee
in Trade Configuration in Nur-Sultan
provided an excellent opportunity to
discuss a number of topics linked to
the implementation of the trade title
of EPCA.
We
welcome
the
Kazakhstani
government's openness to expert
advice to continue structural reforms
and outward oriented economic
policy to spur GDP growth and create
jobs.
In July 2019, the EU and Kazakhstan
have set up a high-level platform for
dialogue on economic and business
matters. The regular meetings
draw the Prime Minister's and
ministers' attention to issues of high
importance for the EU, its Member
States and invited businesses. It is a
key part of the interaction between
the biggest country in Central Asia
and the biggest trading block and
single market in the world, and this
platform is about delivering concrete
results and solving acute issues for
businesses.
We also support the OECD recommenda-
tion to reduce the still very great role
of the state in the economy. There are
significant efficiency gains to be made in
opening the network and infrastructure
sectors to competition, addressing
the regulation of electricity and gas
tariffs, reducing barriers to trade and
investment to create more incentives
for an innovative, competitive and
flexible economy. The EU will continue
supporting Kazakhstan's efforts in all
these areas.
Going carbon-neutral by 2050 has
become an overarching strategic goal
of the EU. It will transform our entire
economies and impact our partners
around the world. But it also opens
new business and trade opportunities.
Ultimately, by working together we
can focus on what the World Bank
named as a new growth model for
building a secure middle class. We
are happy to support Kazakhstan in
this exercise, which shall multiply
wealth for all, diversify the economy
and provide decent jobs for the future
generations.
supported by EUROBAK
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