WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/51
10December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5223)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
MAURITIUS
Statement bytheHonourable Rajkeshwar Purryag
Minister ofEconomic Planning, Information
andTelecommunications
Iwishtojoinother delegations incommending theSingapore authorities forhosting, insuch
anexcellent manner, thisfirstMinisterial Conference oftheWorld Trade Organization. Allow me
also, Mr.Chairman, tocongratulate youonyour assumption ofoffice andtoassure youofmy
delegation 'ssupport inyourenviable task.
Therun-up tothisfirstMinisterial Conference hasnotbeenwithout difficulties. Thevarying
levels ofdevelopment ofWTO Members andthevarious economic interests atplayinarule-based
body liketheWTO make suchasituation almost unavoidable.
Werecognize thattheUruguay Round hasresulted ingreater trade liberalization anda
strengthening ofthemultilateral trading system. AllMembers oftheWTO areaware thattheprocess
ofliberalization should benefit allofus.However, developing nations haveingeneral benefited very
littlefromglobalization sofar.Thisisamatter ofconcern astheveryfoundation ofpolitical andsocial
development inourcountries restsonsustained economic growth andariseinthestandard ofliving.
Itisinthespirit thatwewelcome theWTO/UNCTAD initiative forAfrica andtheWTO Planfor
leastdeveloped countries bothofwhich aimatimproving theparticipation ofdeveloping countries
intheworld economy.
These initiatives require themobilization ofadequate financial resources iftheyaretobe
successfully implemented andgivetheexpected results. Theinternational community must, therefore,
harmonize itsapproach andpoolresources fortherealization ofthese initiatives. Arightstepinthis
direction istheDonors 'Meeting ontheleastdeveloped, landlocked andisland States scheduled for
nextyearandinwhich weurgeallcountries toparticipate.
Wearefirmly convinced thatregional trade arrangements haveanessential roletoplayin
furthering theprocess ofgradual integration ofthedeveloping economies intheglobal system. Iwish
tomake reference totwopositive examples ofregional cooperation. ThefirstistheSADC Trade
Protocol recently concluded by12countries ofSouthern Africa andwhich aimsatestablishing afree-
trade areawithin aperiod ofeight years.
Wehavenogrounds tobelieve thatthereiscontradiction between themultilateral system and
regional agreements. Infact,thelatter provides thebreathing space fordeveloping countries toadapt
andadjust themselves toacompetitive environment. Farfrom being anobstacle tomultilateralism,
regional agreements willinduecourse necessarily actasspringboards formeaningful access tothe
global economy.WT/MIN(96)/ST/51
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Thesecond example ofregionalism istheACP/EU Convention which isrecognized asamodel
ofNorth-South cooperation covering notonlytrade butalsomany other sectors ofvitalimportance
totheACP group ofcountries.
Indeed, theframework provided bytheLomé Convention goesalongwayinpreventing
marginalization thatmayariseoutoftrade liberalization.
MostcountriesoftheAfrican,CaribbeanandPacificgroupofcountries(ACP)aregeographically
isolated having small andvulnerable economies. Their share inworld trade isinsignificant andtheir
trading arrangements canhardly influence international trade. Afurther erosion ofthepreferential
traderegime under which theACPcurrently operates would denythemtheresources required toavail
themselves oftheopportunities created bytheneweconomic order. Inviewoftheconstraints inherent
totheACP, itisourconviction thattheLomé preferences should beextended beyond theyear2000.
While wearetrying tofindthemostappropriate ways andmeans ofrendering theLomé Convention
WTO-friendly, wewould liketorequest Member countries toshow flexibility andunderstanding in
theirconsideration ofsuchregional trade arrangements.
Inthisparticular regard, Ifullyshare theviews expressed bytheHonourable Prime Minister
ofSingapore inhisspeech andIquote: "The developing countries must begiven timetoadjust to
thechanges brought about bytheUruguay Round, bothinterms ofrules andthepressure ofmarket
opening measures."
WeinMauritius alsorecognize theneedfordeveloping countries toenhance theenabling
environment forourprivate sector tooperate more effectively andbecome more competitive tomeet
newchallenges. Studies needtobeundertaken inourrespective countries toimprove theoperations
oftheprivate sector andtofacilitate thesmooth integration ofprivate enterprises intherapidly evolving
world trading environment.
Letmeassure youthatmycountry asafounder Member oftheWTO firmly believes inthe
basic principles oftheUruguay Round Agreement. We,along withother developing countries did
make commitments intheUruguay Round ontheunderstanding thattheAgreements reached would
beimplemented initsentirety andthatthere would benoattempt toalterfundamental principles and
agreedtime-frames.Thesecommitmentsrepresentconsiderableeffortsonourpartandhaveasignificant
impact onoureconomic anddomestic policies. Compliance withourobligations canonlybeeffective
withthefullsupport ofthetrade unions, theprivate sector andthenation atlarge. Ourcountrymen
willnolongerhavefaithinfutureinternationalagreementsofthisdimensioniftheMarrakeshAgreement
isnotstrictly adhered to.
TheUruguay Round Agreement contains amultiplicity ofobligations -notification requirements
andother changes toexisting national legislations, regulations andadministrative procedures. This
inevitably putspressure onourlimited resources. Itisunfortunate thattechnical assistance inthese
highly specialized fields hasnotalways beenreadily forthcoming. However, wearecomforted by
theoffers made byseveral Members, including thehostcountry inthisregard.
WehopethatthisConference willformulate clear directives forextending assistance inthe
implementation oftheprovisions oftheUruguay Round Agreements.
TheSingapore Conference hasanimportant mission tofulfil. Itmust giveafillip tothe
integration ofourdeveloping countries intheglobalization ofworld trade. Iwould likeheretorefer
specifically tothesupport which needs tobeprovided tothenetfood-importing countries.WT/MIN(96)/ST/51
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Wehaveyettocomplete theunfinished business andtoaddress theissues pertaining tothe
built-in agenda oftheUruguay Round. Youwillagree thatinsuchcircumstances itwould bedifficult
togivedueconsideration tothehostofnewissues being proposed byMembers, themore sowhen
itisfeltthatmany ofthesecanbestbeaddressed inother appropriate recognized fora. Acaseinpoint
istheissue oflabour standards which should bedealtwithunder theaegis oftheILO. Mycountry,
which hasalongtradition ofindustrial democracy, hasalways complied withtherules oftheILO.
High labour standards aremaintained through acontinuous process oftripartite negotiations.
Mr.Chairman, youmaywishtonotethatmydelegation comprises representatives ofboththetrade
unions andtheprivate sector.
TheWTO isatacrossroads. Ourcredibility andthesuccess ofourendeavour depend onthe
capacity toensure thatthemultilateral trading system doesnotresult inthemarginalization ofour
economies. Acautious andphased approach which recognizes thespecificities ofallcountries will
undoubtedly enable ustofullyavailourselves oftheopportunities coming ourway.
Theideals ofdemocracy, good governance, human rights, andabove all,theruleoflaware
thefoundations ofourdomestic andforeign policy. Wetherefore expect thattheSingapore Conference
meets ouraspirations. Thismeeting isagolden opportunity toputaside ourdifferences. Weneed
tobuild upconsensus. Posterity willholdustotaskifwedonotachieve thismission.