News date: 30 April 2015
Olena Omelchenko, international trade lawyer at Ilyashev and Partners Law Firm, took part in a workshop which participants discussed the results of a survey conducted among representatives of public authorities and business about the readiness of Ukraine to implement the provisions of the WTO Agreement on the simplification of trade procedures. The event was held on April 28, 2015 at the premises of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine. It was organized by the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in cooperation with the Government of Ukraine, the Chamber of Commerce, Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Organizations of Ukraine (Ukrvneshtrans) and JSC Plaske.
Participants of the workshop reviewed a preliminary report prepared on the basis of the questionnaires completed by experts (with the participation of Olena Omelchenko) about readiness of Ukraine to fulfill future commitments on trade facilitation at the WTO. The questionnaire was drawn up on the basis of the coordinated text of the Agreement (document WTO MIN (13)/36 – WT/L/911) and prepared by UNCTAD in the framework of the trade facilitation program intended to provide developing countries with technical assistance needed to match their capacities with the implementation of the commitments undertaken in the framework of the Agreement.
In the process of discussions Olena Omelchenko elaborated on the need to create a unified all-Ukrainian trade portal containing all the information stipulated by the Agreement.
Following the receipt of the results of the workshop corresponding recommendations were prepared. Successful implementation of the provisions of the WTO Agreement on simplification of trade procedures in Ukraine will improve the level of openness of the economy, ensure a coordinated work of the state authorities and improve economic activities and integration into the global trade community.