BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 16.
Kazakhstan's Kurultai has approved in the first reading a bill
paving the way for the country to join the World Trade
Organization's (WTO) rules on domestic regulation of services,
according to the Kazakh parliament.
The bill provides for amendments to Kazakhstan's list of
specific commitments on services, which is an annex to the Protocol
on the country's accession to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing
the WTO.
Kazakhstan joined the WTO in 2015, ratifying the accession
protocol, which includes 18 annexes containing the country's
commitments on market access for goods and services.
The WTO rules on domestic regulation of services are aimed at
improving the transparency and predictability of the business
environment in the services sector. They cover licensing
requirements and procedures, qualification requirements and
procedures, as well as standards related to services.
"The adoption of the rules will contribute to ensuring fair and
transparent regulation of trade in services, simplifying
administrative procedures, increasing the transparency of
regulatory requirements and creating favorable conditions for
foreign and domestic service providers," the Kurultai said.
Kazakhstan's accession to the rules is also expected to make its
services market more attractive to foreign investors by aligning
domestic licensing and regulatory practices with international
requirements.
The rules were developed with the participation of 60 WTO
members, with Kazakhstan taking part in the negotiations. The
Declaration on the Conclusion of Negotiations on Services Domestic
Regulation was adopted in Geneva on December 2, 2021.
As of September 2026, 72 WTO members have joined the rules,
according to the Kazakh authorities.
