WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/124
12December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5306)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
MYANMAR
Statement byH.E. Lieutenant-General TunKyi
Minister forCommerce
Onbehalf oftheGovernment oftheUnion ofMyanmar andonmyownpersonal behalf, I
would liketocongratulate youonyour election astheChairman oftheFirst WTO Ministerial
Conference.
Youhaveproven yourwisdom andcapability, inthepastfewdays, howyouhavemanaged
toovercome some ofthedifficulties andnarrowed down thedifference ofviews onseveral issues among
thedelegates.
TheMayanmar delegation deeply appreciates andthanks youverymuch forthehardwork
youhaveputintoachieve theobjectives oftheConference. Westrongly believe thatsooner orlater,
consensus maybereached ontheremaining issues, ifalltheWTO Member countries make acoordinated
effort. Youcanbeassured ofthefullcooperation ofthedelegation ofMyanmar.
Allow metoexpress mydeepappreciation andprofound thanks totheGovernment andthe
people ofSingapore fortheirwarm welcome andcordial reception accorded toussince thetimeof
arrival andalsofortheexcellent arrangements made forthisspecial event.
Iwould liketotakethisopportunity toextend myheartiest thanks totheDirector-General of
WTO andSecretariat fortheiruntiring efforts toconvene thisMinisterial Conference.
Wecome toparticipate inthisConference withthree main objectives, namely:
- Toassess theimplementation status ofourcommitments totheWTO Agreements and
Decisions;
- toparticipate intheongoing negotiations andlaying down future work programme;
- toexamine developments inworld trade.
Inother words, wehavecome tothismeeting withtheaimofconfirming ourcommitments
made intheAgreements ontheUruguay Round fordeveloping amultilateral trading system in
international trade.
Wefirmly believe intradeliberalization andwewantfreeandfairtradeintheworld. Myanmar
hasleftbehind thecentrally-planned economy andadopted amarket-oriented economy since 1988.
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Wehaveeliminated andreduced thetechnical barriers totrade wherever possible. Local andforeign
companies areencouraged toparticipate intheneweconomic structure anddobusiness inMyanmar.
Theimpact ofthisliberalization programme resulted inasignificant upturn ofGDP average
growth rateof8.2percentinthepastFour-Year Planfarabove theplanned target of5.1percent.
Moreover, export growth hasrebounded byover18percent,while foreign investment totalling more
thanUS$5 billion hasbeenrealized.
These success indicators demonstrate thatMyanmar 'seconomic development maycontribute
tosome extent further globalization andliberalization ofinternational trade. Myanmar willalso
participate actively intheeconomic development oftheAsian region.
Letmeturntothemain issues ofthisMinisterial Conference. Intheabsence ofthe
implementation ofcommitments made byMember States, especially developed country signatories,
WTO willremain asaweak Organization.
Thecredibility andstrength ofWTO entirely depend onthesuccessful implementation ofthe
Uruguay Round Agreements. Westillhavesome issues tobesettled. Asweallknow, negotiation
isaprocess ofgiveandtake. Weareliving intheworld ofdifferent cultures, social andpolitical
situations, andindustrial andeconomic development. Bearing thatinmind, efforts should bemade
togetconsensus ontheremaining issues.
Thedelegation ofMyanmar isverymuch concerned withthefullandspeedy implementation
oftheWTO Agreements ineachandevery sector.
Wearefullyaware ofthefactthatdirect foreign investment plays animportant roleinthe
industrial andeconomic development ofthedeveloping countries. Inflow offinance andtechnology
cancontribute toincreased production ofmanufactures, employment, export-oriented production of
goods andservices, increased export income andmany otherbenefits. Inourview, however, maximum
output ofdirect foreign investment canbeachieved withtheregulatory supervision andcooperation
ofthehostcountry. Inthestudy anddrafting ofdisciplines todevelop amultilateral agreement for
investment, dueregard should begiven tothenational policy andinvestment lawsoftheMember States.
Anyattempt tolinklabour standards withtrade willhavenegative effects onpromoting free
trade. Inother words alinkbetween labour standards andtrade willbedetrimental totheeffective
functioning ofWTO. Inourview, theInternational Labour Organization (ILO) isthemostappropriate
forum tolookintothese issues.
Asthefounder-Member oftheGATT andWTO, weattach greatimportance tothefuture work
programme ofWTO which maycontribute togreater liberalization ofthenewworld trading system
andsecure better opportunities forallcountries.
Inconclusion, Iwishtomention ourfirmbelief thattheprosperity oftheworld canonlybe
achieved byanopen, free,fairandequitable multilateral trading system. Therefore, weneedabetter
policy coordination topreserve, maintain andstrengthen theWTO trading system which willallow
freetradeflowamong nations. Weshould berealistic anditisourresponsibility todevelop andfurther
strengthen themultilateral trading system inthefamily ofnations. Myanmar, onherpart,isgoing
towards thatdirection andwillcontinue todosofortheemergence ofanewtrading era.