27/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - Kazakhstan brings number of WTO trade facility ratifications up to 80. On Thursday 26 May, following on from Montenegro in Albania at the beginning of May, Kazakhstan submitted its ratification instrument to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). This subsequently brings the number member countries ratifying this agreement to 80. The agreement was concluded during the ninth WTO ministerial conference in December 2013. Kazakhstan submitted its ratification instrument to the WTO Director-General, Roberto Azevêdo, when the latter visited Astana on Thursday. The TFA contains a raft of rules to simplify and reduce customs procedures and increase the participation of countries in developing world trade. The TFA will enter into force when two thirds of WTO member countries (which currently stands at 162, whilst awaiting the forthcoming accession of Afghanistan and Liberia) have ratified it. (EH)