. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/ST/126
12 November 2001
(01-5729)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth SessionDoha, 9 - 13 November 2001Original:  English
MONGOLIA
Statement by H.E. Mr Chimiddori Ganzorig
Minister for Industry and Trade
Allow me first to express on behalf of the Government of Mongolia our sincere gratitude to
the Government and the people of the State of Qatar, the city  of Doha for the  warm hospitality
extended to us during this IV Ministerial Conference of the WTO.  I would, also like to commend the
efforts made by the Chairman of the General Council, the Director-General and the Secretariat of the
WTO in the difficult lead-up to this Conference.
There is no doubt that the trade is a powerful tool for economic development and prosperity
of the nations.  The difficult and long preparatory process of this Conference speaks for the
complexity and challenges of the world trade agenda we are discussing today.  The fact that this
Conference has become a reality does  indicate that the Members share optimism that the Ministers
could bridge our differences and set the new milestones for our concerted actions.
Almost five years have passed since Mongolia became a member of the WTO.  During this
period the Government of Mongolia has undertaken a series of reform measures directed at opening
up our market and bringing our legislation in conformity with the WTO rules.  With applied rate of
one digit import tariffs and virtually no restrictions on trade Mongolia today is one of the liberalized
markets.  This is not an easy process, but we will continue our contribution towards further tradeliberalization, equitable and rule-based multilateral trading system.
Having said that I would like to stress that  Mongolia, alike many developing countries,
expects the real benefits of the system for the economic growth, development and increased
employment of its less developed members.
In this context we believe that implementation-related issues and concerns must be dealt as a
matter of priority at this Conference, addressing existing imbalances and inequities in various WTO
agreements.  These issues include implementation of special and differential treatment provisions in
favour of developing countries as legally binding commitments.  Launching of a new round ofnegotiations will be meaningful if it creates employment opportunities and improves standards of
living, gives benefits rather than costs for developing countries.
Needless to say that agriculture is a crucial sector for developing countries.  Mongolia shares
the concerns of developing countries regarding the lack of progress on the on-going mandatednegotiations on agriculture, high level of protection and subsidies on agricultural products in many
developed countries.  The existing barriers to the exports of developing countries, particularly in
agriculture, constitute serious obstacles to their potential export development.  Non-trade concerns
such as food security and rural development should be also adequately addressed.WT/MIN(01)/ST/126
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The developing countries - a majority of the world trading system, are very diverse by their
level of development, size of economy, export diversification, specific geographical location,
vulnerability to market and natural forces.
All these factors in one or other way  affect the trade primarily of less developed among them.
If the WTO is for trade for all we cannot ignore these factors while they exist. In this regard I would
like to attract your attention to the needs and problems of the landlocked developing countries, like
Mongolia, handicapped by their disadvantaged geographical location and remoteness from the  world
markets.  According to the recent UNCTAD studie s, the average cost of transport for landlocked
developing countries exports is three times greater than the cost of transport for developed countries
and almost twice greater for developing countries as a group.
Development aid and debt relief for developing economies could be much supported and
materialized by full and unlimited access to exports of the most vulnerable, small and geographically
disadvantaged among us.
Mongolia notes that developing countries should receive technical assistance, both in the
negotiations themselves and in implementing and benefiting from the agreements. WTO's technical
assistance should aim at building the human resource capacity of developing countries and
strengthening their institutional capacity.  Accordin gly, WTO technical assistance is an integral part
of broader development efforts of capacity building undertaken by other international organizations in
helping developing counties to participate more fully in the global economy.  Mongolia is confidentthat financing technical cooperation through the regular budget would ensure predictability,
consistency and continuity in the provisions of technical assistance.
We have to agree on the Ministerial Declaration on Intellectual Property Rights and Public
Health.  Implementation and interpretation of the TRIPS should be supportive of public health withparticular emphasis on access to existing and new medicines for the prevention and treatment of
diseases, predominantly affecting developing countries.
I take this opportunity to congratulate the People's Republic of China and the Separate
Custom Territory of Chinese Taipei on the successful completion of their accession procedures.  We
fully support the accelerated accession of Russian Federation and other applicant countries to the
world trade community.  Mongolia is confident that enlargement of the WTO by leading world tradepartners will further strengthen the multilateral trading system.
This is a historic moment when the future of the multilateral trading system is here in our
hands.  Let us get our "act together" and make progress towards building the truly global international
trade organization that is able to offer people everywhere an opportunity for a better life.
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