OSCE holds its second international conference with Tajik Economy Ministry on WTO commitments in telecoms and broadcasting

DUSHANBE, 18 November 2015 – An OSCE- supported conference on Tajikistan’s World Trade Organisation (WTO) commitments in the field of telecommunication and broadcasting services concluded today in Dushanbe.

The two-day conference and the follow up workshops brought together some 70 participants from government, the parliament, media, private sector, civil society, embassies and international organisations who discussed the pros and cons for a single, converged regulatory authority for telecommunication and  broadcasting services in Tajikistan.

In response to the WTO Reference Paper on Telecommunication, which requires the establishment of an independent regulator for telecommunication services, the government of Tajikistan considers converging the two incumbent regulators for telecommunication and broadcasting services into one single regulatory authority.

“The WTO Action Plan for Tajikistan identifies the consideration of restructuring of the two incumbent regulators as objective for 2015 and therefore assigned the OSCE Office in Tajikistan to facilitate a study on the feasibility of a single converged regulator for telecommunication and broadcasting services for the country,” said Mullokhol Ismoilov, Department Head of the Economic Development and Trade Ministry.

In line with the recommendations set out in the study, prepared by the OSCE-supported working group, OSCE and the World Bank representatives emphasized as a first step the establishment of truly independent regulators in both areas.

Head of the OSCE Office in Tajikistan Markus Mueller said:  “While the requirement to establish an independent telecommunication authority directly follows from the WTO commitments of Tajikistan, the activities of the two incumbent regulators touch upon many areas which are of immediate interest for the OSCE as well. Suffice it to mention, the transition from analogue to digital television, free and pluralistic electronic media and free access to the internet of a key importance.”

Representatives of the World Bank underlined the importance of an independent telecommunication regulator for foreign investment in Tajikistan’s Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry.

“Tajikistan’s ICT sector has significant potential to attract investment and to create jobs throughout the service sector and make Tajikistan a key link in data connectivity between Asia and Europe,” stated Christopher Miller, Program Manager of the World Bank Group. “An independent and effective regulator is a precondition for attracting reliable long term partners.”