WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/86
11December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5259)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
GAMBIA
Statement byMr.Ousman Jammeh
Head ofDelegation
Permanent Secretary, Ministry ofTrade,
Industry andEmployment
Letmefirstofalladdmyvoice tothose whospoke before meincongratulating you,
Mr.Chairman, onyourappointment asChairman ofthisaugust assembly. Ihavenodoubt inmy
mindthatyouwillsuccessfullysteerthecourseofthisveryimportantConferencetoafruitfulconclusion.
Secondly, letmealsoexpress myappreciation andsatisfaction fortheoutstanding performance
ofWTO under theveryablestewardship ofMr.Renato Ruggiero. Thestatement weheard fromthe
Director-General highlighted somany solid accomplishments which could onlyhavebeenachieved
through hardwork andaclear sense ofdirection. Ialsoacknowledge thefactthatalotremains to
bedonetowards thefullrealization oftheobjectives forwhich WTO wasestablished.
Thirdly, theGambia would liketoexpress itsappreciation andgratitude toallthose countries,
suchasAustralia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, theNetherlands, Norway, Singapore,
andtheEuropean Union, through whose financial assistance theGambia andother LDCs were able
toparticipate inthisConference. Singapore deserves special mention foritsgenerous hospitality and
theexcellent facilities putatthedisposal oftheConference.
TheGambia, withapopulation ofjustoveramillion people, located onthewestcoast of
Sub-Saharan Africa, isamong thesmallest, poorest andleastdeveloped nations oftheworld. For
countries inthatcategory, theprocess ofsocio-economic development poses verymany challenges.
Theoddsarejusttoomany andalltoofamiliar tomention them here. ForusintheGambia, weare
facing uptothechallenges withoptimism anddetermination.
Wearereviewing andformulation policies thatwould enhance thedevelopment ofourkey
economic sectors; wearestriving todevelop ourhuman resources; weareinvesting more onthe
development ofbasic infrastructure; wearepromoting theprivate sector totaketheleadineconomic
activity; weareimproving theenvironment fordevelopment investments through theprovision of
attractive incentive packages forinvestors; theGambia istrying tobuildasustainable democratic system
ofgovernment based ontransparency, accountability, probity, theruleoflawandrespect forhuman
rights; etc.
Allthese measures areverywellelaborated onourVision 2020 Document.
Iamsuremany oftheLDCs areinvolved insimilar efforts. However, these efforts mustbe
supported bythedeveloped nations iftheaspirations ofthedeveloping countries aretobeachieved.
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Themarginalization, deprivation andpoverty intheLDCs should beaglobal concern. Ablazing fire
intheLDCs iscapable ofsending choking smoke tothedeveloped industrialized nations oftheworld.
Theeconomic prosperity oftheLDCs, ontheother hand, enlarges theglobal market andenhances
global peace andprosperity. Inalltheissues thisConference willaddress, letthere bespecial
consideration forthepoornations oftheworld particularly sub-Saharan Africa which isatthebottom
oftheeconomic ladder.
Iwould liketomention trade andinvestment withparticular emphasis onForeign Direct
Investment (FDI) intheLDCs. Sub-Saharan Africa, likeinmany other LDCs, hasabundant untapped
natural resources which could beexploited through inflows ofinvestment resources andtechnology
from thedeveloped world. Theindustrialized countries should relocate some oftheir industries
(especially thelightindustries) intheLDCs inorder tofacilitate technology transfer totheLDCs and
takeadvantage ofthegreat potentials forgrowth inthese regions.
Secondly, theGambia would liketoadditsvoice tothose calling forunrestricted participation
ofallnations inworld trade andmembership oftheWTO irrespective ofthepolitical circumstances
andthesovereign choices ofthepeoples ofthese nations. Inthisregard, countries suchasthe
Republic ofChina andother nations yearning tobefullMembers oftheWTO should beallowed to
fulfil theiraspirations.
Finally, mydelegation would liketobring totheattention ofthisConference thefollowing
issues ofgreat relevance totheGambia and,Ihope, other LDCs:
- Theexpeditious implementation ofallspecial anddifferential measures taken infavour
ofLDCs;
- application, inaflexible andsupportive manner fortheLDCs, ofthevarious
Agreements andinstruments andthetransitional provisions intheUruguay Round;
and
- substantiallyincreasedtechnicalassistanceforLDCs,inthedevelopment,strengthening
anddiversification oftheirproduction andexport including services, aswellasintrade
promotion, toenable themtomaximize thebenefits fromliberalized access tomarkets.