To enhance Uzbekistan's technical regulation system and bolster its export capabilities, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on February 26 delved into proposals aimed at reforming the sector, the presidential press service reported. The move comes as the nation eyes a 1.5-fold increase in exports, targeting a $25bn benchmark, while also harboring aspirations to join the World Trade Organization.
One of the developments in recent years has been the establishment of the Technical Regulation Agency, aimed at overhauling the standardization sector and introducing contemporary approaches. Over 12,000 standards have been adopted, facilitating the testing of 400 types of products and leading to the opening of 40 new export markets. This surge in standards adoption and product testing has contributed to a 2.5-fold increase in Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover, reaching $63bn in the last seven years. The country aims to further increase exports by 1.5 times, reaching $25bn, with aspirations to join the World Trade Organization in the future.
Recognizing the critical role of technical regulations in enhancing trade competitiveness and protecting consumers, urgent measures have been outlined to refine the existing system. Key among these measures is the need to enhance the international recognition of national certificates, improve confidence in the testing capabilities of domestic laboratories, align technical regulations with international standards, and develop new regulations where necessary.
To achieve these goals, plans include integrating six information systems and two portals related to standardization, bolstering the personnel capacity of relevant ministries and agencies, and revitalizing sectoral technical committees. Proposals presented during the session also underscored the importance of transferring the regulatory agency directly under the Government's oversight.
The agency's main tasks will include aiding exporters, ensuring the recognition of national certificates abroad, enforcing stringent controls to prevent the importation of substandard goods, and aligning with the technical barriers to trade set by the World Trade Organization. Additionally, the agency will focus on personnel training, digitalization efforts to enhance transparency, and the implementation of international quality systems in over 1,200 enterprises.
Efforts are also underway to expand the coverage of products under technical regulations, revise and update existing regulations, and promote the adoption of high-precision measuring instruments. To facilitate cooperation with the World Trade Organization, plans are in place to establish an information center within the agency dedicated to technical barriers to trade.
President Mirziyoyev endorsed the proposed measures and emphasized the importance of engaging with enterprises and businessmen to understand their challenges and recommendations regarding standards. He provided specific directives for the development of standards and the establishment of laboratories, ensuring their swift implementation.
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