During his visit to the United States, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with World Trade Organization Secretary-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to discuss Uzbekistan’s accession process. The talks highlighted the country’s reform agenda and its impact on accelerating negotiations.
Okonjo-Iweala noted that Uzbekistan’s economy is expanding by nearly 6% annually—twice the global average. She emphasized that the pace of reforms and strong political backing have brought the membership process close to completion. A working group session is scheduled for November, with key stages expected to conclude by March.
«If the timeline is maintained, we will celebrate Uzbekistan’s accession in 2026,» the Secretary-General stated. She also commended the work of the negotiating team, citing the role of President Mirziyoyev and support from Saida Mirziyoyeva in advancing the process.
At the same time, Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged that certain issues remain unresolved, particularly in negotiations with the United States. She underlined, however, that efforts will continue to finalize all outstanding matters.
