WT/MIN(17)/ST/4  
 
13 December 2017  
(17-6878) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. DR . OKECHUKWU ENELAMAH  
MINISTER FOR INDUSTR Y, TRADE AND INVESTM ENT 
NIGERIA  
On behalf of the Nigerian people and delegation, let me start by thanking the people of Argentina 
for their wonderful hospitality – and for organizing what is turning out to be a truly warm and 
engaging conference. Minister Susana Malcorra, thank you.  
 
I also want to congratulate Ambassador Roberto Azevedo, on his well -deserved re -election as 
Director General. Nigeria believes that WTO is poised to make even greater strides under his 
leadership.  
 
These are truly challenging and defining times for the multil ateral trading system. Though the 
current estimates for global growth are positive, the benefits of recovery are yet to be more widely 
felt. This has increased the drive for protectionism, put international cooperation under pressure 
and is testing multila teralism. There are multitudes of challenges, from rapid population growth in 
the Africa region and associated migratory pressures, to increased demands for faster job 
creation; from discontent with globalization to demands for reduction of inequalities an d for 
development models that are more sustainable and inclusive. The WTO, like other multilateral 
institutions, must be responsive to these pressures and demands in the context of a rules -based 
system.  
 
The report from the preparatory process in Geneva t o this Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference is 
cause for concern. Deadlock and paralysis have been reported. Nigeria has chosen not to despair 
and would rather work with others to turn this apparent crisis for the WTO into opportunity. As the 
saying goes, a  crisis is too good an opportunity to waste . 
 
One approach that suits the current state of play is to commit to continuing engagement to create 
win-win outcomes while implementing individual member’s economic and structural reforms.  
 
In part, to stabilize the system, compromise solutions are necessary for the items on agriculture, 
cotton, and non -agricultural market access. A solution is within reach on the elimination of 
fisheries subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. This would be in keeping with 
the implementation of Agenda Item 14 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS). A 
permanent solution must be found for the issues of Public Stock Holding (PSH) for food security 
purposes. Food security is critical to all WTO members.  
 
There are divergent positions on the legal status of the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). 
Regardless of the positions, what is at issue is that the rules -based Multilateral Trading System 
requires a serious and sustained development dimension. The ultimate obje ctive of any area of 
public policy, including trade policy, is welfare, prosperity and development.  
 
Nigeria considers that for the relevance and credibility of the WTO, the Organization should deal, 
simultaneously, with longstanding issues on the negotiat ing agenda of the WTO, together with 
issues of commercial significance, that modernize, foster inclusive growth, create jobs and widen 
the circle of prosperity. The situation is not one of either this or that. If the WTO does not deal 
with all economic and  trade -related issues of commercial significance for its Members, or if it is 
prevented from doing so, the Organization shall lose relevance. Other organizations will take over 
its functions.  WT/MIN(17)/ST/4  
 
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Some of the contemporary issues with commercial significance include investment facilitation for 
development; e -commerce and the digital economy; micro -small and medium enterprises, 
women’s economic empowerment and associated policies to mainstream the inf ormal into the 
formal economy. These issues are indeed consistent with the robust domestic reforms we are 
pursuing in Nigeria to grow the economy under the leadership of H.E. Mr. Muhammadu Buhari.  
 
Nigeria organized a High -Level Policy and Private Sector F orum on Trade and Investment 
Facilitation for Development, in Abuja, in November, to support the consensus -building efforts of 
the WTO on Investment Facilitation (IF). A major outcome and contribution was the "Abuja 
Statement: Deepening Africa's Integratio n in the Global Economy through Trade and Investment 
Facilitation for Development", which was adopted unanimously. The major position in the 
Statement was the reaffirmation that trade and investment are inseparable; they are the "twin 
engines " for economic  growth, modernization, and development. The "Abuja Statement " 
acknowledged that only by scaling up investments in "connectivity " infrastructure – ports, 
transport corridors, telecommunications networks – could African countries participate in, and 
benefit  from, today's integrated and digital global economy.  
 
As I conclude, let me focus on some key highlights of Economic Reforms. Nigeria believes that we, 
as a country, must accept responsibility for our domestic policy reforms. Therefore, we are 
committed t o making wide -ranging domestic policy reforms. Further it is our considered view that 
as Members adopt this approach, this would in fact contribute to resolving a number of the areas 
where the multilateral trade negotiating agenda is deadlocked. Earlier th is year, we launched an 
all-encompassing Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) to implement and sustain domestic 
reforms.  
 
It is in this context that one of the main priorities of H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari’s 
government is on creating a sound attra ctive Enabling Environment that makes Doing Business 
easier in Nigeria. Although there is more work to be done, in the most recent publication of the 
World Bank 2017 Report on the Ease of Doing Business, Nigeria improved its ranking by 24 places. 
Nigeria w as identified as one of the Top 10 Reforming Economies in the world. This is evidence 
that sound policies, well implemented, produce positive results.  
 
Regional Trading Arrangements are building blocks for trade integration and can complement the 
multilate ral trading system. Regionally, with other Members of the African Union (AU), Nigeria 
accords top priority to the negotiations underway to establish the African Continental Free Trade 
Area (CFTA). As Chairperson of the CFTA process, Nigeria is working hard  with other AU Members 
to launch the CFTA in 2018. This is a paramount priority for the African Union and Nigeria. Nigeria 
appeals to all WTO Members to support the efforts of the AU in this regard.  
 
In conclusion, Nigeria considers that one of the outcome s Members should seek here in 
Buenos  Aires is the reaffirmation of the centrality of the WTO as the primary forum on 
international cooperation for trade. It would be hard, if not impossible, to conceive of the global 
economy without a rules -making body. Th e WTO and its predecessor in the General Agreement on 
Tariffs and Trade (GATT) provided the foundation for global economic prosperity. The global 
economy would be worse off without the rules -based system. The value of the WTO is its 
restraining effect on e conomies from engaging in damaging protectionism and tit -for-tat 
behaviour.  
 
On our part, Nigeria shall continue to work in partnership with the entirety of the WTO Membership 
to seek for compromise and balanced solutions that support the domestic policy r eforms of 
individual Members and hence, foster growth, enhance welfare, modernize and widen the circle of 
prosperity. Buenos Aires offers the WTO a chance to reset.  
 
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