Azerbaijand does not plan to enter the World Trade Organization in the near future, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said at the meeting with businessmen members of MEDEF in Paris, APA reports.
To question on perspectives of Azerbaijan’s accession to the WTO the President said that at present time Azerbaijan is working on the issue and conducting bilateral consultations with partner countries and the process is going on successfully.
‘At the same time I would like to note that there are two opinions about Azerbaijan’s accession to the World Trade Organization. First is to become a member of the organization in a short time. This view is also quite reasonable, because it will increase the competitiveness in the market. This, we hope, will have a positive impact on consumer prices. At present, Azerbaijan is a country, which integrates a number of international organizations, and is close to becoming a part of the World Trade Organization’, noted Aliyev.
The President noted that, if today Azerbaijan joins the World Trade Organization, it could have a negative impact on the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas. This may create a problem related to employment: ‘Some of our products may lose their competitiveness. We strive to find a way between these two approaches. Thus, we are in the process of negotiations. Rather, our membership will not happen in the near future’.
