Kazakhstan has become the 162nd member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The WTO announced on November 30 that Central Asia's largest economy, which has deposited an Instrument of Acceptance of its membership terms with the WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo on October 31, is now a member.
Kazakhstan's Accession Package was approved by the WTO's Working Party members on June 22 and ultimately by the General Council on July 27, finalizing almost 20 years of negotiations.
Kazakhstan began WTO accession talks in 1996, but negotiations were repeatedly stalled, in part because of Kazakhstan's membership in the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union.
Kazakhstan's domestic industrial and agricultural production levels remain relatively weak, as the country mainly relies on its oil revenues.