WT/TPR/M/294  
WT/TPR/M/295  
WT/TPR/M/296  
19 June 2014 
(14-3533) Page: 1/73 
Trade Policy Review Body  
22 and 24 April 2014   
 
  TRADE POLICY REVIEW  
QATAR, BAHRAIN AND OMAN  
MINUTES OF THE MEETING  
Chairperson: H.E. Mr. Joakim Reiter  
CONTENTS  
 
QATAR  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..............................  2 
1  INTRODUCT ORY REMARKS BY THE C HAIRPERSON  ................................ .......................  2 
2  OPENING STATEMENT BY  THE REPRESENTATIVE O F QATAR  ................................ ........  4 
3  STATEMENT BY THE DIS CUSSANT  ................................ ................................ ................  7 
4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBER S ................................ ................................ ..........................  9 
 
BAHRAIN AND OMAN  ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 26 
5  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS  BY THE CHAIRPERSON  ................................ .....................  26 
6  OPENING STATEMENT BY  THE REPRESENTATIVE O F BAHRAIN  ................................ .. 28 
7  OPENING STATEMENT BY  THE REPRESENTATIVE O F OMA N ................................ ........  32 
8  STATEMENT BY THE DIS CUSSANT  ................................ ................................ ..............  35 
9  STATEMENTS BY MEMBER S ................................ ................................ ........................  37 
 
10  REPLIES BY THE REPRE SENTATIVE OF QATAR A ND ADDITIONAL COMMEN TS ..........  56 
11  REPLIES BY THE REPRE SENTATIVE OF BAHRAIN  AND ADDITIONAL 
COMMENTS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .....................  58 
12  REPLIES BY THE REPRE SENTATIVE OF OMAN AN D ADDITIONAL COMMENT S ...........  61 
13  CONCLUDING REMARKS B Y THE CHAIRPERSON  ................................ .......................  68 
14  ELECTION OF THE NEW CHAIRPERSON  ................................ ................................ .... 71 
 
 
Note: Advance written questions and additional questions by WTO Members, and the replies 
provided by Qatar, Bahrain and Oman are reproduced in document s WT/TPR /M/296/Add.1, 
WT/TPR/M/294/Add.1 and WT/TPR/M/295 /Add.1, and will be available online at 
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp_rep_e.htm.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
WT/TPR/M/295 • Oman  
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  QATAR  
1  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS  BY THE CHAIRPERSON  
1.1.  The second  Trade Policy Review of Qatar  was held on 22 and 24 April 2014. The Chairperson 
H.E. Mr Joakim Reiter (Sweden) welcomed the delegation of Qatar  headed by H.E. Sheikh Ahmed 
bin Jassim Al Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce ; the rest of the Qatari delegation from 
Doha; colleagues from the mission in Geneva ; and the discussant, H.E. Mr  Syafri Adnan 
Baharuddin  (Indonesia).  
1.2.  The Chairperson recalled the purpose of the Trade Policy Reviews and the main elements of 
the procedures for the meeting. The report by Qatar was co ntained in document WT/TPR/G/296  
and that  of the  WTO Secretariat in WT/TPR/S/296 . 
1.3.  Questions by the following delegations had been submitted in writing at least two weeks in 
advance and had been transmitted to the delegation of Qatar : Pakistan; the United States; China; 
the European Union; Hong Ko ng, China; Colombia; Mexico; Canada; Republic of Korea; Malaysia; 
Singapore; Chinese Taipei; Japan; and Australia . The following delegations submitted written 
questions after the two week deadline: Turkey; Brazil; India; and Thailand.  
1.4.  Since its last review , Qatar had  seen double -digit annual growth rates notwithstanding some 
cooling off since 2012. At the core of Qatar 's growth was and had  been its reliance on its 
hydrocarbon base, in particular natural gas, which accounts for approximately half of GDP, mor e 
than 60 % of government revenues, and, in terms of trade, over 80 % of Qatari exports. This had  
been buoyed in recent years due to high energ y prices and increased output. Thereby, Qatar had  
become one of the wealthiest countries in the world, as measured by GDP per capita.  
1.5.  Of course, such rapid growth had  not come without some side effects, including a period of 
high inflation during 2006-08, but Qatar had  managed to keep inflation low for the remainder of 
the period.  
1.6.  Similarly, the strength of its hydro carbon sector and i ts reliance on its windfalls ran  the risk 
of making Qatar vulnerable to external shocks, in the medium to long term. Therefore, capitalising 
on its significant  hydrocarbon reserves, Qatar had  invested heavily in diversifying its econom y and 
recent domestic growth had  been fuelled by developments in infrastructure, in particular 
construction, transportation, and services. Investment and diversification strategies towards a 
knowledge -based economy were starting to have an impact, albeit sli ght, as non -hydrocarbon 
exports increased from 10 to 12 % of total exports during the period. This had  been facilitated by 
the 2010 reforms of the investment regime, and introduction of new incentives to attr act foreign 
direct investment. Nonetheless, in ge neral, foreign investors were still limited to a minority 
ownership requiring a Qatari partner.  
1.7.  In terms of its trade policy, there had been no major changes to Qatar 's traditional open 
trade policy  regime since the last review. As a member of the Gulf Co -operation Council (GCC) 
Customs Union since 2003, many of Qatar 's trade policies were determined at the level of the 
GCC. In particular, there had been more cooperation among the customs administrations of the 
GCC countries but internal customs borders re mained in place. A similar situation arose with 
respect to tariffs, whereby there was a common GCC tariff schedule, although country specific 
deviations were in place for certain tariff lines and for prohibited and special goods. Many aspects 
of services t rade remain ed outside the GCC remit, although there was some cooperation in some 
sectors such as recognizing professional qualifications and allowing for the free movement of 
persons. Trade among GCC members had  grown significan tly over the period, but rem ained  a 
relatively small per cent of Qatari trade.  
1.8.  More specific trade and trade -related questions and concerns that Members ha d raised were, 
among others, the following:  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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   On investment and services, considering the limitations and restrictions still in pl ace, 
 Members had enquired about further liberalization of the investment sector, and whether 
 there were immediate or future plans in this respect.  
 On intellectual property, despite having enacted laws to adhere to WTO rules in this area, as 
 reported in the previous TPR , implementation of the laws had  remained pending for many 
 years due to lack of implementing regulations.  
 On SPS, clarification was sought on the import ban on bovine and ovine meat and Qatar 's 
 main f ood safety law and how it aligned  food standards with Codex Alime ntarius, ISO, and 
 other bodies.  There were also questions related to Qatar 's adherence to GCC rules and 
 norms on import controls and shelf life/expiry dates.  
 On tariffs, despite the GCC having relatively low tariff protection averaging 5 %, with a 
 relatively flat tariff profile with few peaks, transparency and a number of applied rates 
 exceeding the tariff bindings remain ed issues of concern.  
 Export incent ives: o ne of the other de velopments during the period had  been the 
 establishment of Qatar 's first export development agency.  Clarifications were so ught on 
 incentives and targets put in place to increase and diversify Qatari exports.  
1.9.  These were some of the issues Members would  like to discuss during this meeting . The 
Chairpe rson was  sure that Members would  wish to raise many other issues as well.  
1.10.  Finally, the Chairperson inform ed Members that they could access the podcast of this 
meeting on the Members ' website and that there was simultaneous translation of the first day 's 
meeting in Arabic , courtesy of the delegation of Qatar.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
WT/TPR/M/295 • Oman  
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  2  OPENING STATEMENT BY  THE REPRESENTATIVE O F QATAR (H.E. SHEIKH  AHMED BIN 
JASSIM AL THANI)  
2.1.  On behalf of the State of Qatar I would like to begin by thanking the Director General of the 
WTO, H.E. Roberto  Azevêdo, the Trade Policy Review Body Chairperson, H.E. Joakim Reiter as well 
as our discussant, H.E. Ambassador Syafri Baharuddin, and the former Trade Policy Review 
Director , Mr. Richard Eglin , for the opportunity afforded to us to undertake this import ant exercise, 
our second Trade Policy Review. I would also like to extend our warmest welcome to Your 
Excellences Ambassadors, as well as other distinguished delegates and guests. We hope that this 
exercise will provide everyone with useful information abo ut our current trade policy regime as 
well as insights into the opportunities related to the ongoing economic development drive in Qatar.  
2.2.  We believe that the Trade Policy Review Mechanism provides an open and transparent 
process based on frank and friendly  exchanges on matters regarding the multilateral trading 
system.  Qatar remains committed to the strategic goals of the WTO and, to this end, will continue 
to collaborate with other Member States to promote free trade, enhances cross -border investment 
and d evelop a more competitive, transparent and stable trade policy and investment framework.  
Consistent with this, we recently took steps to realign six tariff lines, in steel, in order to make our 
entire tariff schedule fully WTO -compliant.  
2.3.  Let me start by s aying that we are aware and appreciate the role that interna tional trade 
plays for the well -being of our people. As a net importer of food, Qatar structured its trade policy 
to ensure that our country 's basic needs are met in a way that maximizes social we lfare. 
Furthermore, we believe that trade policy is instrumental for the achievement of our long -term 
development goals, as spelled out in the Q atar National Vision 2030, our G overnment 's main 
economic and social s trategic development document. We kindly r efer our friends to both the 
Secretariat and the Government reports for further details on this important policy text. In this 
sense, our report was drafted to complement the Secretariat 's description and highlight certain 
sectors  — such as construction an d finance  — in a way that may be useful for both private 
investors as well as policy makers.  
2.4.  Qatar has undergone significant structural and policy changes s ince its first review in 2005. 
Investment has spread across sectors covering hydrocarbon extraction,  downstream 
manufacturing, business services and con struction activities. In particular, our infrastructure 
development initiatives have moved along with the planning and implementation of major 
construction initiatives such as Hamad International Airport,  highway infrastructure throughout 
Qatar, a public transportation system in Doha, a country -wide railway system as well as new 
hospitals and schools.  
2.5.  Total expenditure in construction activities from 2001 to 2012 was around US$164 billion.  
About 40% of our  workforce is currently engaged in construction -related activities and we expect 
this to incr ease over the next five years. Most of these projects are still underway and a significant 
number of opportunities in various sectors remain.  
2.6.  Between 2005 and 2013 , the Qatari economy experienced robust economic growth at an 
average annual rate of 13.7%. This expansion was supported through a combination of significant 
construction investments, strong hydrocarbon exports  — currently Qatar is the largest exporter of 
LNG in the world  — and the expansion of the service  sector. Even during the midst of the global 
financial crisis our economy grew strongly at 17.7% and 12% in 2008 and 2009 respectively.   
2.7.  However, while we know that some sectors will evolve along a sustai nable path in years to 
come, we are also aware that others w ill face increasing pressures. As a result, we made economic 
diversification a top priority so that income formation and government revenues maint ain the 
stability seen so far. Moreover, we set 20 30 to be the year by which fiscal revenues are no longer 
to depend on hydrocarbon exports.  
2.8.  So far the results of our economic diversification efforts have been encouraging as the 
contribution to growth from the non -hydrocarbon sector went from 61% of overa ll GDP growth in 
2005 to an estimated 79% in 201 3. There is no doubt that the most dynamic sectors of our WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  economy lie in activities outside mining and quarrying, despite the fact that these still account for 
55% of the economy.  
2.9.  Being the first Arab country  to be awarded the organization of the FIFA World Cup, to be held 
in 2022, is a great hono ur that we deeply value.  With it, however, ad ditional challenges have 
come. Several new stadiums will have to be built throughout the country while our current hotel 
room capacity will have to increase significan tly. The overall cost of these additional projects was 
estimated to be around US$19 billion . To make the most of this opportunity, the authorities also 
developed  — and have begun implementing  — a strategic tour ism plan with the objective of 
maximizing the tourism potential that the event will create, as well as the le gacy that it will leave 
behind.  International trade will play an integral role in achieving these goals, which we have no 
doubt, will be reached.  
2.10.  At the same time, Qatar 's financial authorities embarked on a series of reforms to 
implement a transparent legal framework for the development of the financial sector, including 
setting up dispute re solution procedures and forums.  In 2005 , the Qatar Financi al Center and its 
regulatory agency were launched to attract foreign investment to the country. The stock market 
regulatory body was reorganized in 2012 to streamline process and efficiency while putting in 
place various tax, ownership and employment incen tives to promote the financial sector 's 
devel opment. As the Secretariat 's report mentions, there are currently over 170 companies 
registered in the QFC including 20 banks.  
2.11.  The Qatar Financial Center also complements other public initiatives such as Enterpr ise 
Qatar and Qatar Development Bank, both tasked with supporting small and medium enterprises in 
Qatar, as well as Silatech, an investment agency linked to Qatar Foundation that promotes the 
development of SMEs throughout the region.  
2.12.  Monetary policy was e xpanded to  facilitate these developments.  Although our longstanding 
hard peg to the USD remained in place, as it has served our economy well, emerging market 
pressures led authorities to e xtend their policy objectives. The Qatar Central Bank thus started 
issuing T -bills of different short -term maturities  denominated in local currency.  These began in 
May 2011 through a price -based auction process with the objective of further developing the 
domestic financial market, extend the yield curve and most important ly, create additional 
instruments for man aging structural liquidity.  We believe that this will provide additional policy 
room to accommodate adjustments to short -term inflationary pressures, as well as provide 
support to the balance of payment.  
2.13.  Islamic fin ance, one of our most important emerging activities, was also brought  in line with 
QCB regulations. Since 2011, banks in Qatar were tasked with separating Islamic from 
conventional capital in order to improve oversight and provide both regulatory bodies an d clients 
with a more transparent outlook on their activities.  
2.14.  Social development continues to be one of our core guiding principles, as demonstrated by 
our commitment to the UN 2015  Millennium Development Goals. Significant publicly financed 
investments i n education, including students ' fees, have also been made since 2005.  As noted by 
the Secretariat, Qatar has a national university that is complemented by eight university campuses 
from the US, Great Britain and France within the facilities of Education C ity, one of the entities 
under the guidance of Qatar Foundation. The Qatar Faculty of Islamic Studies is also located within 
Education City. There are also three additional foreign universities set up outside Education City 
offering nursing, technical and applied science curricula.  
2.15.  A number of hospitals were  also inaugurated or expanded. The latest achievement, the 
Sidra Medical and Research Center, a research -based facility specialized in women and children 's 
care, is expected to  be fully operational by 20 15. To support this development, t he Government 
allocated 7% and 12% of the overall 2014/2015 budget to the health and education sectors 
respectively, amounting to almost US$11.5 billion . 
2.16.  Trade policy, in turn, was aligned to accommodate our country 's over all developmental 
needs.  First and foremost, trade and investment facilitation was made a top priority in order to WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  open-up our investment regime and support both exporters and importers as well as domestic and 
foreign investors.  
2.17.  Our trade policy seeks to f acilitate economic diversification awa y from hydrocarbon 
extraction. We attach particular importance to this end as achieving it is a necessary requirement 
for the future sustainability of economic an d social development in Qatar. Our G overnment is also 
committed to continue to foster trade policy specialists and expand its presence abroad while 
assuming a more proactive stance.  
2.18.  We hold importance in the liberalization of environmental goods and thus reiterate our 
proposal, also stated in 2005 in this same forum, that natural gas be consid ered as an 
environmental good. We strongly believe that this will not only facilitate trade but also trigger 
cross-border investment and service supply in  highly specialized activities.  Qatar attaches special 
importance to the development aspects of the DDA as well and, thus, would like to see this 
reflected across the board in the work programme.  
2.19.  Back in 2005 it was brought to our attention that our previous import procedures were 
rather complex.  We agreed with this concern  and to help remedy the situation, we decided to 
review several areas starting with cus toms and licensing procedures. Processes were streamlined 
at the General Authority of Customs leading to the impl ementation of a single -window. Procedures 
were also exam ined by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, QCB and 
QFMA, leading to new regulations covering rules of origin, competition, anti -dumping, subsidies 
and safeguards as well as financial services.  
2.20.  Our foreign investment regime was s ignificantly liberalize d. As noted by both the Secretariat 
and the Government reports, foreign participation in investments in Qatar now may include 
majority ownership throughout most of the economy, including finance, construction and ICT 
services. There are a number of incentives in place to promote inte rnational investment in Qatar. 
This is complemented by two free trade zones, one focused on research and development 
activities, the only such research cluster in the MENA region, while the other one cover s finance.  
2.21.  Qatar has sought to enhance its trade regime through bilateral agreements that cover 
investment promotion, double taxation and economic, commercial and technical cooperation wi th 
countries around the world. Such instruments enhance transparency and provide the legal 
protection t hat foreign investors require. Moreover, we made our legislation available both in 
English and Arabic through a new government -funded website called Al Meezan. We encourage all 
Member countries, academics as well as privat e investors and o thers to visit it. From our part, we 
are happy to assist anyone interested with further requests regarding this important area of doing 
business in Qatar.  
2.22.  We deeply value  our regional partners as well.  As a founding member of the Gulf 
Cooperation Council we have sought to continue to coordinate the development of our trad e 
regime with our GCC brothers.  In particular, Qatar is committed to the principles and guidelines 
set forth by the GCC in the negotiation and implementation of GCC -level b ilateral trade  
agreements. Qatar is also invested in the Pan -Arab Free Trade Area which in 2009 covered a 
market of over US$141 billion in total merchandise flows. We believe that these initiatives 
complement the efforts undertaken within the mandate of th e WTO and , in particular, the DDA. 
Qatar will continue to work with both developed and developing nations to bring ongoing 
negotiations to a fruitful conclusion.  
2.23.  Let me finish by mentioning that we are in the process of amending several important laws 
that will have a dir ect impact on our trade regime.  The new framework will greatly facilitate 
setting -up businesses in Qatar both in financial  and non -financial activities. We expect the new 
regulations to be in place very shortly as it is now in the final app roval stages.  
2.24.  I once again reiterate our deepest gratitude to the Trade Policy Review Body for this 
opportunity and welcome an open and transparent  discussion with Member States.  I hope that this 
exercise provides us all with the chance to gain further ins ights into our economy, our social and 
development process and, of course, our trade policies.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
WT/TPR/M/295 • Oman  
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  3  STATEMENT BY THE DIS CUSSANT  
3.1.  I feel honoured to be appointed as the discussant for this Trade Policy Review of Qatar this 
morning and allow me to use this occas ion to also warmly welcome the delegation of Qatar led by 
H.E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al -Thani, Minister of Economy and Commerce, to Geneva.  
3.2.  In this opportunity, I would like to underline several aspects of trade and macroeconomic 
policies of Qatar which  will include a number of elements such as economic achievement, 
macroeconomic development, some sectoral policies, the overall tariff regime, and foreign 
economic policies. The meticulous data and information provided by the Secretariat and the 
Government  of Qatar in their respective reports have been indeed very useful in supporting my 
view on these matters.  
3.3.  Qatar surely deserves commendations for its economic achi evement. It is ranked 13 of 
148 countries in the Global Competitiveness Index published by W EF in 2013 -2014. Qatar has also 
successfully managed to preserve a double -digit economic growth during most of the review 
period. Not to mention that Qatar also steadily occupies world 's top positions on the countries list 
of GDP per capita.  
3.4.  I believe that  strong confidence on Qatar 's economy and its future prospect has also 
contributed to the decision made by FIFA in choosing Qatar as the host of 2022 World Cup. The 
decision in turn will drive Qatar 's economy further, since its infrastructure sector will b e exposed to 
Government 's special attention in years to come. The building and construction sector, which was 
weighed down by excess capacity and falling prices during the period under review, is expected to 
revive in the n ext decade.  
3.5.  Qatar has been pruden t in managing its economic policies. This is shown by its strong fiscal 
surpluses, accommodative monetary policy, and low inflation in recent years.  
3.6.  Located in the region endowed with abundant hydrocarbon resources, Qatar 's output and 
trade have been very  much dominated by energy sector. In addition to its sturdy resources basis, 
Qatar has been successful in implementing its macroeconomic policy which assures resilience and 
flexibility against world global financial crisis. The persistent high world energy  prices will also 
guarantee its economic performance in the immediate future, even if its imports are kept st rong 
such as the current level.  
3.7.  Qatar 's outward economic policies are very much associated with its membership in the GCC. 
This regional body has c onsiderably influenced Qatar 's trade policies and legal structure such as its 
customs law. Its membership in the GCC has also pushed Qatar further to harmonize other areas 
such as intellectual property, transport and other services s ectors with other GCC m embers.  
3.8.  As indicated by both reports, Qatar 's applied tariffs remained low and relatively constant over 
the review period. Qatar also maintains only a few non -tariff barriers. In line with its commitment 
to the GCC Common External Tariff, Qatar maintains a simple tariff system with the vast majority 
is maintained at 5% and even several hundred lines are duty -free. Its ceiling bound tariff to the 
WTO is kept at 15 % which is also relatively low.  
3.9.  Progressive internal liberalization in the GCC has brought a co nsequence that all GCC 
nationals can exercise free movement in other GCC countries and restrictions are kept at the 
minimum for investment by GCC nationals. The case also applies to Qatar who benefits 
significantly to su ch open intra -GCC arrangements.  
3.10.  Qatar has shown impressive undertakings in streamlining its custom procedures. During the 
period under review a computer -based customs system was developed to reduce red tape and to 
expedite the entrance of goods into the country. Qatar has also implemented si ngle window 
system which is increasingly aligned to their WCO and WTO commitments. With this improvement 
Qatar has been successful in creating a custom system that is able to reduce the clearance period 
of goods down to 15 minutes and the inspection rate t o 5% without infringing on the country 's WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  security. In my view, Qatar has shown its readiness to implement th e Trade Facilitation 
Agreement.  
3.11.  Qatar also puts its membership in the WTO as a very important part of its views on world 
trade. With the historic mo mentum that Doha Development Agenda was adopted in its capital, 
Qatar has made consistent efforts to promote the liberalization of international trade and eliminate 
trade barriers as well as support the role of developing nations in international trade. Qa tar has 
also been an active participant  in the negotiations of the DDA with main objectives including  
greater access to non -agricultural products and the removal of agriculture subsidies, the free 
movement of natural p ersons and trade facilitation.  
3.12.  Qatar progressively continues to liberalize foreign inv estment restrictions by opening -up 
more sectors and instituting framework for competition. Such liberalization is supported by its 
commitment to guarantee unrestricted transfer of funds and to provide assura nces against 
expropriation to foreign investors. However, Qatar 's foreign investment laws generally still 
subscribe to partnership system by limiting foreign investors to a minority ownership of 49% and a 
full ownership 100% for certain sectors after  autho rization.  
3.13.  Despite the fact that the Qatari econo my is still heavily reliant on s tate-owned enterprises, it 
is worth noted that Qatar has made significant efforts to encourage private sector investment and 
business establishment. Its reforms on investment laws have relaxed certain provisions for sole 
proprietorships and limited liabilities companies.  
3.14.  Against the background of its vibrant and promising economy, I identified at least two major 
challenges that are faced by Qatar today and also tomorrow. These  are Qatar 's effort to diversify 
its economy to shift away from the dominant role of its energy sector and its dependence on the 
considerabl e presence of foreign workers.  
3.15.  Qatari economy is heavily dependent on the revenue from its exports on natural gas a nd oil. 
Around 55% of the economy is based on hydrocarbons. To ensure future sustainability, 
diversification to move away from the domination of energy sec tor is an inevitable necessity.  I 
noted that the two TPR reports on Qatar have also highlighted this issue co nsiderably in several 
sections.  
3.16.  It is worth -appreciated that the Government of Qatar has been implementing various 
strategic policies towards diversification. Such policies include liberalizing its trade regime; 
undertaking construction, industrial  and petrochemical projects; and promoting  tourism and 
services sectors. Exploring and enhancing non -energy sector as ways to search for alternative 
sources of GDP growth are indeed strategic. However, there are still many works to be done to 
support Qatar 's ambitious vision to finance its entire budgetary operations through 
non-hydrocarbon revenues by 2020.  
3.17.  As its population continues to grow, Qatar has also paid considerable attention on the need 
to improve its human resources through education and social  welfare. This policy will greatly 
support its undertakings towards diversification and reduce its reli ance on foreign professionals.  
3.18.  The second challenge that I would like to underline today is Qatar 's dependence on the 
significant presence of foreign wo rkers in its economic activities. With relatively small population in 
the face of the large demand for workforce to support its dynamic development, Qatar will still 
need the support of foreign workers to sustain its endeavours for further progress. To dea l with 
this issue, prudent immigration policy, improved system of labour relations, and fulfil ment of 
migrant worker 's rights must be continuously maintained to ensure that its economic success will 
not be challenged by unnecessary demographic predicament,  especially since the share of 
expatriates far outnumbers that of Qataris.  
3.19.  I would like to draw my conclusion by expressing my view that with such a dynamic 
economy, Qatar will be able to continue its economic, human and social transformations. I have 
every confidence that with current economic stature and strategy, Qatar 's vision to achieve a 
diversified, well -established and well -developed nation by 2030 will become a reality.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  4  STATEMENTS BY MEMBER S  
PAKISTAN  
4.1.  Qatar is an important economy of the Gulf regi on that has recorded impressive progress. 
From a heavy reliance on oil, it has successfully diversified in areas from the energy -intensive 
industries to excellence in specialized niches like Islamic finance, and other non -energy sectors 
including financial  services, constructions, tourism, and, of course, export -oriented manufacturing. 
Qatar has established its economy on sound foundations reflected in high GDP growth, positive 
balances of payments and current account surpluses leading to solid fiscal posit ions, strong 
external balance, low inflation and unemployment, low applied tariff rates coupled with absence of 
tariff quotas, nuisance rates and other duties and taxes on imports, besides an attending absence 
of resort to such protectionist measures as an ti-dumping, countervailing or safeguard actions, and 
are not involved in the dispute settlement at the WTO. Qatar has also put in place developing 
strategies (Vision 2030). Qatar has put in strong communications and transport infrastructures, 
and is attrac ting multinational businesses. Of note also is its trade performance. It has a generally 
free market economy and has followed open and liberal trade policies. Trade surpluses of Qatar 
nearly tripled during the review period.  
4.2.  On the flip side, the over -dependence on oil reflects a major structural economic issue, heavy 
state presence and concentration of business in SOEs, a rather low market development, lack of 
competition, and capacity building  continue to be some of the notable problems. A book 
comprehens ively analysing the gulf economies, entitled "The GCC Economies, Stepping up to 
Future Challenges" notes that "the GCC is one of the richest growing regions in the world, yet its 
economies are less diversified, infrastructure financing gap is huge, human c apital endowments 
are low, growth in labour productivity is low, and absorptive capacity is relatively weak".  
4.3.  Qatar posts the world 's second highest income per capita and registered GDP growth rate in 
double digits during the review period. It has the worl d's third largest gas reserves, along with oil 
reserves in excess of 25 billion barrels sufficient for output for 57 years. It is focusing on 
non-associated natural gas reserves and increasing private and foreign investment in non -energy 
sectors. Qatar Eco nomic Insight report of December 2013 indicates that manufacturing remained 
the fastest growing sector boosted by production from the new Pearl gas -to-liquids facilities. 
Qatar 's infrastructure development programme is gathering steam. The key driver of gr owth is 
projected to be the non -hydrocarbon sector at least until 2015, when the Barzan gas project is 
expected to start production. It has invested heavily in knowledge -based infrastructure related to 
education and healthcare. It has also initiated an exp ort development strategy since 2012. Qatar 
has spurred spending on large -scale projects for the 2022 football world cup. Also noteworthy is 
the fact that in the region, only Qatar is in the MSCI frontier market index, half of which is 
accounted for by stoc ks from three gulf States, Qatar, UAE and Kuwait. Finally, S&P Dow Jones 
Indices and Morgan Stanley Capital International have already upgraded its "Emerging Market" 
status.  
4.4.  Qatar is an original M ember of the WTO and supports the DDA including greater NAMA  and 
further liberalization of trade in services, Qatar seeks to define natural gas and its derivates as 
environmental goods in the CTE.  
4.5.  Qatar hosts a large workforce of several hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis that gives a 
grasp of how integrated Paki stan nationals have become in its economy. The two -way trade 
between these countries is increasing and so is investment from both countries in sectors such as 
construction, telecommunications, and banking. There are investment opportunities and 
cooperation  in the fields of finance, business, civil aviation, human resources development, 
education, scientific research and cultural relations and a vast potential for collaboration in the 
fields of renewable energy, software technology parks, cotton, textile, oi l and gas, agriculture, 
tourism, small and medium enterprises, chemicals and infrastructure sectors.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  UNITED  STATES  
4.6.  The United States and Qatar enjoy a broad, deep and robust bilateral relationship, with 
cooperation spanning many of the economic and securi ty issues confronting the Middle East and 
the world. On the commercial front, bilate ral trade continues to expand. In 2013, U.S. goods 
exports to Qatar were US$5  billion, up 38.6% from 2012, while imports total led US$1.4 billion, a 
33% increase from 2012.  Also, U.S. foreign direct investment in Qatar h as increased 34.1% since 
2011. The United States also looks forward to continuing its work with Qatar and its Gulf 
Cooperation Council (GCC) partners through the U.S. -GCC Framework Agreement for Trade, 
Economi c, Investment and Technical Cooperation to strengthen our economic ties.  
4.7.  We noted that since its last Trade Policy Review in 2005, Qatar has made efforts to deepen 
its participation in the multilateral trading system and maintain its commitments to the WTO , 
including by becoming a participant in the Information  Technology Agreement in 2013. We 
encourage Qatar – and its GCC partners – to work actively and indeed to play leadership roles in 
implementation of the recen t Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
4.8.  Qatar cont inues to make economic progress, including by supporting economic diversification 
through trade liberalization, noting the important role of freer trade flows both in boosting the 
competitiveness of local businesses in areas other than hydrocarbon producti on and in enhancing 
the well -being of the Qatari peo ple and the country in general.  
4.9.  While Qatar has reason to be pleased with the results of its efforts to date, the United States 
would like to highlight several areas that we believe need greater atten tion. On investment, we 
encourage Qatar to consider carefully the impact of its existing investment restricti ons on the 
investment climate. For example, we urge Qatar to think seriously about whether allowing greater 
foreign investment without the requirement of a 51% share Qatari partner, and other revisions to 
its trade -related regulatory l aws, would help Qatar to fulfil  its untapped potential as an attr active 
investment destination. In addition, we would like to make the related point that foreign investors 
do tend to favo ur locations that provide strong and effective in tellectual property protection.  We 
encourage Qatar to establish the structures and issue the laws and regulations necessary to 
improve protection for patents and copyrights, including effectiv e enforcement measures, all of 
which would further enhance Qatar 's statu s as an investment destination.  
4.10.  We also note the Government 's description of Qatar 's requirements for a “certificate of 
conformity” which seems highly burdensome. We hope this TPR will  shed light on this practice and 
the scope of its application du ring the course of this review.  
4.11.  Another issue relates to notifications, a critical aspec t of our work here at the WTO. Many of 
our questions for Qatar involve the submission of notifications i n areas such as subsidies and 
countervailing measures, import licensing, and state trading enterprises – where notifications have 
not been made or where certain practices may exist that are not consistent with the information in 
Qatar 's notificat ions. We encourage Qatar to update or submit its notifications as so on as possible, 
as appropriate.  
4.12.  The United States shares a positive and supportive economic partnership with Qatar, and we 
hope that Qatar will find this review to be useful not only in its reform e fforts, but also in its efforts 
to enhance its WTO participation.  We thank the Government of Qatar in advance for its efforts to 
respond to our questions, and we plan to review its responses carefully and to request 
clarifications as necessary during the c ourse of this TPR.  We look forward to continuing our work 
with Qatar and our trading partners to strengthen the global economy and the multilateral trading 
system embodied by the WTO, allowing trade and investment opportunities to expand.   
CHINA  
4.13.  China not es with pleasure that Qatar has undergone substantial economic development 
since its last review, despite the global financial crisis during this period. It is particularly glad to 
see that development plans and national visions has helped its diversificat ion efforts, which 
translated into an increased share of the non -oil and gas sectors in its overall economic output. We 
believe that further liberalization of trade and investment under the WTO framework will help WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  Qatar to build a diverse and resilient eco nomy, and would eventually contribute to the sustainable 
growth and prosperity of this region.    
4.14.  As a major trading pa rtner of Qatar, w e commend its G overnment  for maintaining an open 
environment for trade and investment since its last review, especially for keeping tariff at a low 
level on most of the products. During this period, efforts have also been made to simplify customs 
procedures, remove non -tariff barriers, and adjust domestic regulation to comply with WTO 
provisions. We are pleased to see Qatar  continued to restrain the use of trade dispute mechanism 
and trade remedy measures.  
4.15.  We appreciate Qatar for its firm commitment to the multilateral trading system, as well as 
its contribution to the success of the Bali Ministerial Meeting. I would also l ike to take this 
opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to the hard work undertaken by its mission here. 
We enjoy very much our cooperation and are willing to keep working together for our common 
objectives in formulating the Post -Bali work progra mme. 
4.16.  On the bilateral front, Qatar is our important partners in trade and investment. We have 
also developed close and comprehensive trade and economic ties with  Gulf Cooperation Council 
(GCC)  we look forward to further expand our cooperation by accelerati ng the talks to establish the 
China -GCC free trade zone.  
4.17.  Taking it by and large, the trade and investme nt environments of Qatar remain  open, but 
there are still areas to be improved. We would li ke to encourage the respective G overnment to 
further liberali ze trade in goods and services equally, further open market for foreign investors, 
and regulate the market with more transparent rules that fully complied with WTO provision. 
Through these initiatives, we believe the potential in trade and investment coope ration could be 
further . 
EUROPEAN  UNION  
4.18.  This is the second review for Qatar and I would like to start by noting that overall, the 
country seems to be going in the right direction since its last TPR in 2005.  
4.19.  Qatar is ranking second in the world in terms of GDP per  capita, with a figure above 
US$90.000. Qatar 's economic growth has been buoyant in the last decade, boosted by oil and gas 
revenue, as well as major infrastructure programs, aver aging 15% per annum since 2004.  
4.20.  The backbone of the country 's economy,  industrial output and trade remains the energy 
sector and the hydrocarbons production, building therefore the base f or the lion 's part of its GDP.  
4.21.  As already noted on the occasion of the previous review in 2005, Qatar is aware of the 
danger of a too high  dependence from a limited number of revenues ' sources and therefore it is 
laudable that it has put in place specific strategies aimi ng at diversifying its economy.  
4.22.  Notably, in 2008 the Government created its first national strategic document for future 
development, the Qatar National Vision 2030. Its main goal is to transform Qatar into an advanced 
country by 2030, capable of sustaining its own development and providing for a high standard of  
living for future generations.  
4.23.  The EU appreciates this long -term plan and believes that it will help the country to improve 
further its economy, making it even more open -oriented and securing its long term development 
goal to become knowledge -based economy in the forthcoming years. Therefore, we can only 
encourage  Qatar to pursue the good work.  
4.24.  A word  on our bilateral relationship. Formal relations between the EU and Qatar take place 
mostly in the context of the 1988 EU -Gulf-Cooperation Council (GCC) Cooperation Agreement. The 
1988 Cooperation Agreement contained a comm itment from both sides to enter into negotiations 
on a free trade agreement. Negotiations have started and been suspended several times since 
1990. Negotiations resumed in March 2002, but were  suspended by the GCC in 2008.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  4.25.  The EU remains committed to conc luding the agreement as it is an important trading 
partner for the region. The EU was the first trading partner for the GCC in 2012 covering 13.2% of 
its total trade . EU-GCC total trade in goods in 2013 amounted to around €152 b illion. The GCC 
accounts for 4.4% of total EU trade and is a significant market for EU e xports (€95 billion; 5.5%).  
4.26.  At a multilateral level, the EU encourages Qatar to pursue its efforts for t he quick 
implementation of the TFA. In this context, the EU expects an ambitious notification of schedule 
"A" commitments and reiterates its call to prioritiz e trade facilitation pr ojects in the development 
plan. 
4.27.  Despite these positive aspects, the EU has a number of questions and concerns as regards 
the trade and investment policies of Qatar. Turning to the EU questions, let me stress that they 
cover several areas of the economy – here we would like to touch upon only some of our concerns.  
4.28.  First of all, in  terms of import prohibitions, we are concerned about the ban on imports of 
bovine a nd ovine meat applied by Qatar.  
4.29.  Secondly, while the EU recogniz es that Qatar has taken important steps to improve its 
business and investment climate, we are of the view th at some work still remains to be done. For 
instance, foreign investors have not yet the opportunity to fully own companies in several sectors 
as the investment regime remains restricted or limited in certain activities, some of which continue 
to be dominat ed by s tate-owned companies. Also, the G overnment procurement regime still allows 
price preferences for domestic and GCC products and it seems that, in this respect, the situation 
has not chang ed much since the last reviews.  
4.30.  The EU has full understanding f or the need to integrate more citizens into economic activity, 
known as the Qatarization. What is important is that these policies are predictable and that quotas 
and tran sitional periods are realistic.  
4.31.  The EU is confident that this TPR will help Qatar in reviewing its policies so as to ensure that 
they are most favourable for attaining its economic and developmental objectives while respecting 
its internati onal commitments in this forum.  
HONG  KONG,  CHINA  
4.32.  Hong Kong, China has maintained cordial trade relati ons with Qatar over the years. Qatar 
was our 5th largest trading partner in the Middle East in 2013. Our bilateral merchandise trade 
with Qatar grew at an average annual growth rate of 49% from 2009 to 2013. We hope the 
momentum will continue and grow.  
4.33.  We appreciate that Qatar has bound all its tariff lines and maintained a low level of averag e 
applied tariff rates. However, six tariff lines of Qatar 's steel products also have a higher appli ed 
rate than their bound rate. We encourage further improvements in  their tariff regime.   
4.34.  We note that Qatar 's tariff schedule, which is based on the unified customs tariff of the Gulf 
Cooperation Council (GCC), is not publishe d or available to the public. We encourage Qatar to 
increase transparency of its tariff schedul e in order to provide greater certainty to the trade.  
4.35.  Qatar is apparently keen to expand its services sectors and diversify their economies. We 
would encourage them to continue their efforts  to pursue progressive liberaliz ation in trade in 
services, by inc reasing private sector participation and removing foreign investment restrictions.  
4.36.  We appreciate that various incentive measures are provided by Qatar to promote foreign 
investment. However, in Qatar foreign investors in general are still limited to a mino rity ownership 
for most sectors. We encourage Qatar to consider further liberalizing their investment regimes for 
foreign investors.  
4.37.  We also appreciate the efforts taken by Qatar to improve their trade facilitation 
environment. In particular, we commend th e introduction of the customs clearance single window WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  projects in 2011 by Qatar. Such measures can help improve efficiency and reduce cost for traders, 
as demonstrated by the successful reduction of Qatar 's customs clearance time to 15 minutes and 
the insp ection rate to 5% since the introduction of its singl e window project.  
4.38.  We note that Qatar enacted the GCC 's legislation on anti -dumping, countervailing and 
safeguard measures in the second half of 2013. We encourage Qatar to promptly notify the new 
legisla tion in line with relevant WTO agreements.  
4.39.  We are pleased that Qatar has kept their technical regulations to the minimal. We would like 
to see their continued efforts to exercise restraint in introducing new regulations and to avoid 
creating unnecessary ob stacles to the trade.  
4.40.  We note that privatization is an area of priority for Qatar, but its pace has significantly 
slowed down during the review period. We strongly urge Qatar to resume its efforts to develop the 
private sector and encourage private investm ent in a wider range of industries.  
4.41.  On IP rights, we are happy to note from Qatar 's reply to our written questions that the 
latest drafts of the implementing regulation of the laws on patents, copyright and industrial 
designs have recently been finalized a nd that lega l approval will follow shortly.  We are also pleased 
to note that ministerial reorganiz ation for enhanced IP rights en forcement will likely be finaliz ed 
within th is year. We believe that these initiatives will bring about greater transparency an d 
certainly welcomed by investors and innovators.  
4.42.  Last but not the least, I offer my sincere congratulations to Qatar on its successful bid t o 
host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.  I am sure services industries around the world, in particular the 
building and con struction sectors would be very eager to contribute to Qatar 's preparation for the 
Word Cup. Services providers of Hong Kong , China are definitely well-positioned to pitch in.  
4.43.  We look forward to closer cooperation with Qatar both in WTO and in our bilater al trade 
relations.  
COLOMBIA  
4.44.  I will be very brief today, because I must confess that we were expecting to make only one 
intervention, not only to save time but particularly bearing in mind the major similarities between 
the economies of the Member states t hat are presenting their trade policy reviews today.  
4.45.  Today, the three Member states presenting their reviews share the Arabian peninsula, 
where  Africa, Asia, the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea come together. They have fulfilled their 
commitments and have par ticipated actively in the developments of this institution, including 
initiatives such as the recent negotiation of a Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
4.46.  The first point to note in the case of Qatar is that the Secretariat Report shows how, during 
the review per iod, it has incorporated the recommendations of previous Trade Policy Reviews into 
its policies, with highly positive results.  
4.47.  The results are actually outstanding: in the review period Qatar tripled its GDP 
and its exports, while keeping inflation under c ontrol and maintaining very low levels 
of unemployment.  
4.48.  Qatar 's productive structure is highly concentrated in mining and quarrying (including oil 
and gas) with a large share of state enterprises accounting for 60% of GDP.  
4.49.  The 2012 crisis in international oil production led Qatar to design an economic diversification 
policy that will have a key role to play in maintaining its growth path in the coming years.  
4.50.  In this area, we stress the strengthening of the services sector, investments and tourism 
promotion;  and, most particularly, we acknowledge the efforts made by the Qatari Government WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  to undertake the investments needed to hold international events such as the football World Cup 
in 2022.  
4.51.  We also highlight the implementation in 2011 of the single -window cus toms clearance 
facility which has had very positive results. The recently concluded Trade Facilitation Agreement 
offers it  facilities to continue modernizing and consolidating improvements in this area.  
4.52.  Within this positive panorama, the Secretariat 's Repo rt mentions a need to update 
notifications in various areas. Timely and complete notifications for the multilateral trading system 
are all the more important in the current circumstances as we prepare to define a post -Bali 
work programme.  
MEXICO 
4.53.  Qatar has continued growing, despite the 2008 -2009 financial crisis that occurred between 
the previous review and this one. The oil sector has played a key role in this recovery, along with 
the Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims at exploiting oil revenues to div ersify and strengthen 
its economy.  
4.54.  Qatar 's most notable achievement is to have practically tripled its exports since 2007. 
In 2012, it was ranked 23rd among the world 's leading exporters. According to the Arabian 
Business News Service, in the first three m onths of this year alone, the National Bank of Qatar 
reported earnings growth of 13.7%, partly thanks to the increase in credit for 
construction  expenditure.  
4.55.  Qatar 's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by an enviable 6% in the second quarter 
of 2013, largely  thanks to the increasing and continuous growth of its exports of natural gas, crude 
oil and other products. The Secretariat Report states that Qatar has the world 's third largest 
natural gas reserves.  
4.56.  The "Doing Business" index published by the World Bank  and the International Finance 
Corporation ranks Qatar second in terms of paying taxes in 2014, which is a laudable achievement 
in terms of doing business. Nonetheless, it still takes longer than 100 days on  average to start 
a business.  
4.57.  In Qatar, the vast majority of applied tariffs are set at 5%; there are six tariff lines at 20% 
and one has a rate of 100%. Some products are duty -free, such as those relating to information 
technology, pharmaceuticals, seeds and some agricultural products.  
4.58.  Although the Bali  Trade Facilitation Agreement has not yet entered into force, Qatar has 
unilaterally applied a number of measures that take trade facilitation further than the  agreement 
signed last December. It is no coincidence that the Greater Arab Free -Trade Area (PAFT A), 
also known as the Greater Arabia Free -Trade Area (GAFTA), formally established in 1997 
and of which Qatar is a party, was preceded by an Agreement to Facilitate and Develop Trade 
among Arab States, which had been in force since 1981. The fact that the agreement provided for 
a temporary transition period did not prevent Qatar from implementing unilateral measures 
to facilitate trade in its territory.  
4.59.  In particular, we wish to highlight the introduction of paperless procedures in several 
government agenci es; its bilateral customs agreements with a view to aiding enforcement 
and combatting customs fraud; and its plans to guarantee that trade flows are not interrupted 
and bottlenecks do not arise over coming years. Nonetheless, above all, we applaud the 
development and implementation of a single -window customs clearance facility, also known 
as Al Nadeeb, which has been implemented in all of Qatar 's main sea, land and air ports.  
4.60.  This system was designed in the midst of the 2008 -2009 financial crisis, which, fa r from 
discouraging Qatar, encouraged it to achieve a situation whereby in 2011 the level of functionality 
was already very high in the maritime ports and by 2013 would be functional for airports, land 
border crossings and other public agencies. According to the Secretariat Report, this single -window WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  system has cut the customs clearance procedure to 15 minutes, and has made it possible 
to reduce the inspection rate to 5%; and it has the support of over 90% of registered importers 
and exporters. The system h as an analytical risk management component and has replaced all 
paper -based trade processes.  
4.61.  In terms of educational services, we congratulate Qatar for the very open nature 
of its education system, and for giving such an important role to the Qatar Founda tion in its 2030 
national vision. The Qatar Foundation has an Education City containing public educational 
establishments at the primary and secondary levels, together with research institutes, specialized 
academies, and other national and foreign educatio n institutes as well.  
4.62.  Qatar will have a great opportunity to benefit from tourism because in 2010 it was chosen 
to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.  
CANADA  
4.63.  International Peer Reviews, such as the WTO 's Trade Policy Review Mechanism, provide  an 
important lever for reform.  In this spirit, Canada has a number of comments on Qatar 's effort to 
meet its ambitions set out in its National Vision 2030 and its Nat ional Development Strategy 
2011-2016.   
4.64.  The o il and gas sector is still Qatar 's main economic driver, althoug h we note the ambitious 
measures taken to transform the country rapidly into a m odern knowledge -based economy. We 
commend Qatar 's effo rts to diversify its economy.  
4.65.  Qatar 's investment environment is in general business -friendly; there is a very low 
corporat e tax rate of 10% and generous tax holiday benefits are available to many foreign 
companies. Global performance indicators such as the World Economic Forum Global 
Competitiveness, the World Bank/IFC Ease of Doing Business, and Transparency International 
Corruption Perception are very positive.   
4.66.  It is hard to ignore Qatar 's strong overall economic performance since the last  review, which 
the Secretariat r eport attributes to significant economic growth and development in exports of 
LNG, an open trade and inv estment climate, massive investments in knowledge -based 
infrastructure including in education and healthcare.   
4.67.  The positive macro economic environment presents an opportunity for Qatar to continue 
moving forward with structural reforms, not only to transit ion away from the energy sector, but 
also to put itself on a long term path to sustain able growth; Canada believes that the most 
promising ways to pursue these goals are to: (1) strengthen the administration of justice and 
commercial disputes; (2) accelera te investment liberalization an d reform of policies governing 
state-owned enterprises (SOEs) as a way to promote robust private entrepreneurship and 
transparency; and (3) address foreign labour rights issues. We would like to make a few 
observations of eac h of these issues.  
4.68.  First, with respect to business dispute resolution, despite the positive contribution of the 
Qatar Centre for International Arbitration (QCIA) and the Qatar International Court and Dispute 
Resolution Centre, according to World Bank Group  – Doing Business Report, for 2014 globally, 
Qatar stands at 128 of 189 in the Investors  Protection ranking. Also, according to the special UN 
rapport on the independence of judges and lawyers , the current judicial s ystem in Qatar faces 
challenges  especial ly in relation to the indepe ndence of the judicial system. Though the rapporteur 
was particularly concerned with the enforcement of human rights, the findings also can shed some 
light on how to address trade disputes and investment protection.  
4.69.  Second, rega rding the role of s tate-owned enterprises  and privatization , we recall that 
transparency is a cornerstone of the multilateral trading system . According to the Secretariat 
report, during the review period , Qatar has twice notified the WTO that it does not m aintain any 
state enterprises that meet the definition in paragraph q of the Understanding on the 
Interpretatio n of Article XVII of GATT 1994.  However, according to the report, over 60% of Qat ar's WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  GDP is generated by s tate-owned e nterprises. Many of these companies still do not publish audited 
annual financial reports and are not subject to  scrutiny. This lack of transparency places these 
companies at an unfair advantage.  
4.70.  Additionally, further lifting restrictions on foreign investments should also be cons idered 
within the fra mework of Qatar 's FDI policies.  This will also help Qatar meet its objectives in 
developing a vibrant private sector.  
4.71.  Finally, on labour rights, we note that the construction industry is heavily dependent on the 
movement of its labour force in order to carry out construction projects. Enterprises are allowed to 
bring foreign workers to Qatar through a quota system if they provide a valid work contract and 
sponsor them. Sponsorship requirements require the worker to have an appropriate p rofessional 
qualification, pass a medical check -up, submit fingerprints, submit a birth certificate, submit a 
marriage certificate; a fee is payable by both the employee and employer.  
4.72.  Canada would welcome the views of Qatar on how it intends to address For eign Labour 
issues raised by a number of international organizations including the UNHRC and ITUC in 
particular in regards to the Kafala (sponsorship) regime.  
4.73.  We would encourage Qatar to address transparency and predictability issues regarding a 
number of its SOEs, take steps to assure a more robust and independent judicial system in the 
matter of dispute mechanisms  and take measures to address the human rights of its foreign labour 
force.  
4.74.  To conclude, trade can be a lever of reforms and growth, and Canada is pleased to note that 
steps have been taken by  Qatar to address these issues.  However, despite these changes, 
Canadian companies continue to raise concerns with restrictions that undermine foreign 
involvement in several areas and the obligation t o invest  with a local sponsor. The kafala system is 
an antiquated practice that has been criticized by human rights organizations for creating easy 
opportunities for the exploitation of workers, and also for abuse in the trade sector with unlikely 
chances of legal  repercussions on the sponsor adding to the risk of doing business in Qatar.   
4.75.  Despite these remarks, Canada is optimistic that Qatar is on the right track and is putting in 
place the necessary enforcement measures to address these challenging issues.   
REPUBLIC  OF KOREA  
4.76.  As the Secretariat 's Report notes, the Qatari economy demonstrated an exceptional 
performance during the period under review due to the strong oil and gas exports, coupled with 
favourable energy prices: the GDP growth remained in the double -digits, and GDP per capita ranks 
second in the world. Given the global economic difficulties, these achievements are indeed 
impressive. Reflecting its confidence in the domestic economy, Qatar maintains an open trade and 
investment environment with low ta riff and few non -tariff barriers and trade facilitating single 
window customs clearance systems.  
4.77.  Despite these positive achievements, there is room for Qatar to enhance its 
competitiveness. Specifically, we would put forward that Qatar can continue to furt her diversify its 
economy and mitigate its dependence on the energy industry. While we recognize the fact that 
non-energy exports also expanded during the review period, considering its price fluctuation risk 
and the limited nature of those resources, a fu rther push for its economic diversification seems 
very much needed. Having said that, we understand that Qatar is busy establishing its social 
infrastructure in preparation for the 2022 World Cup, which we believe will serve as a great 
stepping stone for i ts further diversification. Taking this moment, Korea wishes to have an 
opportunity to participate in building Qatari infrastructure and share our expertise in that field.  
4.78.  On the bilateral front, Korea and Qatar have established close economic ties. Qatar is 
Korea 's No. 1 importing country of natural gas, and Korea is the second largest export destination 
of natural gas for Qatar. Recently, the two countries are further expanding cooperation areas into WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  the health and medical sectors as well as environment, and green growth, to which we attach a 
great importance.  
MALAYSIA  
4.79.  We congratulate Qatar for its significant economic, human and social transformation since 
the last Trade Policy Review, maintaining a  double digit GDP growth of 12 -26%.  
4.80.  Malaysia acknowledge s Qatar as a strong supporter of the multilateral trading system and 
Qatar 's continuous effort in creating an open trade and investment climate. Tariffs are low and 
only a few non -tariff barriers are still maintained. We noted that Qatar does not maintain any 
legislation on import licensing, pre -shipment inspection or contingency measures, which provides a 
conducive environment for trade. It is commendable that Qatar continues to diversify its economy 
from hydrocarbon production by investing in knowledge -based economic activities.  
4.81.  Qatar is Malaysia 's 3rd largest trading partner in the West Asia Region. Malaysia 's main 
exports to Qatar are electrical and electronic products, machinery appliances and parts, wood 
products and metals, worth US$161.4 million in 2 013. Meanwhile, Qatar exported crude 
petroleum, refined petroleum products, LNG, chemicals and chemicals products and metals to 
Malaysia, worth US$1.02 billion.  
4.82.  Malaysian companies have been involved in Qatar 's economy particularly in construction, 
automo tive and the oil and gas sectors. In the construction sector, Malaysian companies have 
carried out several projects in Qatar. Malaysia looks forward to more collaboration in Qatar 's 
development projects, particularly for the upcoming World Cup 2022.  
4.83.  Qatar 's plan to create a more competitive economy by reducing entry barriers and 
strengthening competition is v ery much welcomed. The liberaliz ation of trade in services as part of 
the Qatar 's National Development Strategy would increase the participation of ou r services 
providers and professionals in Qatar 's economy, particularly in Islamic finance.  
4.84.  Malaysia also welcomes Qatar 's effort to streamline customs processes, reduce red tapes 
and cost of doing business as well as to expedite the movement of goods into  the country through 
the implementation of the Qatar Customs Clearance Single Window (QCCSW). Likewise, Malaysia 
and ASEAN have established the ASEAN Single Window as a regional effort.  
SINGAPORE  
4.85.  Singapore enjoys good economic ties with Qatar. We face simi lar challenges, being small 
economies highly reliant on international trade and with a limited population base.  In 2013, our 
bilateral trade with Qatar stood at US$8.1 billion. FDI flows are also healthy and growing, with the 
stock of FDI from Qatar in Sin gapore standing at US$285 million in 2012. The FTA between 
Singapore and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GSFTA) was a milestone 
agreement as it was th e first FTA signed by the GCC. With its entry into force on 
1 September  2013, we look forward to the GSFTA helping to facilitate greater trade and closer 
economic l inkages between our economies. Even prior to the FTA coming into effect, Singapore 
companies have invested in a range of sectors such as water treatment plants, infrastructu re, port, 
oil and gas services in Qatar.   
4.86.  Qatar 's double digit economic growth in the period under review despite a challenging gl obal 
environment is impressive.  We welcome Qatar 's efforts to diversify its economy and create a more 
competi tive, knowledge -based economy. With energy products accounting for 88% of exports in 
2012 and hydrocarbons accounting for 55% of the economy, it is evident that there is still much 
more potential for Qatar to further diversify its economy. Further liberaliz ation of servic es and 
foreign investment restrictions, such as the limiting of foreign investors to minority ownership in 
most sectors and prohibition of foreign investment in banks, insurance companies and trading in 
real estate, would aid Qatar in achieving its goal of  a more divers ified and competitive economy. 
We welcome Qatar 's trade facilitative measures such as the establishment of a single window for 
customs clearance and its participation in the Information Technology Agreement in 2013. We WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  encourage Qatar to stre ngthen its intellectual property protection regime by operationalizing its 
laws with the necess ary implementing regulations.   
SEPARATE  CUSTOMS  TERRITORY  OF TAIWAN,  PENGHU,  KINMEN  AND  MATSU  
4.87.  From the report of the Qatar G overnment we can see that it has bee n actively attempting to 
diversify its economic base from the hydrocarbon sector into the general infrastructure and 
services sectors. Qatar has been investing in a knowledge -based infrastructure, aimed at making 
improvements especially in the areas of edu cation, local infrastructure and health care. It is clearly 
devoted to creating a better trade and investment -related environment.  
4.88.  Qatar is to be congratulated on its very impressive economic growth and development in the 
period under review. For most of the period, GDP growth has been in double -digits. We are 
pleased to see Qatar continuing to be an active participant in the regular work of the WTO, and 
committed to strengthening t he multilateral trading system.  
4.89.  We commend Qatar, in particular, on its soc ial and economic strategic policy framework, the 
National Development Strategy 2011 -2016, which is part of the Qatar National Vision 2030. From 
the details of the projects and programmes we can see that a great proportion of total investment 
is allocated t o infrastructure projects, and we are pleased to note that this strategy should result in 
positive econ omic performance in the future.  
4.90.  We also note that Qatari G overnment continues to encourage further diversification and 
investment in services sectors suc h as transportation, construction and tourism, and we look 
forward to wor king with Qatar in these areas.  
4.91.  However, we do have some concerns regarding the laws policies that apply to foreign 
investors. We know that Qatar has made some amendments to the laws since 2010 and relaxed 
certain restrictions for foreign investors, however, in most sectors foreign investment is still limited 
to a share of 49%. May we suggest that Qatar might like to consider further reforms in this area 
with a view to stimulating th e flow of foreign investment.   
4.92.  We also notice from the report that many of Qatar 's laws rel ating to intellectual p roperty 
remain non -operational. We would urge that these IP regulations be adopted and i mplemented as 
soon as possible.  
4.93.  Qatar, is a very import ant trading partner to Separate Customs Te rritory of Taiwan, Penghu, 
Kinme n and Matsu , and the two -way trade between us is growing steadily. According to our 
customs statistics, bilateral trade last year (2013) amounted to almost US$6.5 billion, representi ng 
14% growth on 2012. For us, Qatar is definitely one of the key overseas markets that we shall be  
focusing on from now onwards.  
JAPAN  
4.94.  Let me start with the substantial part as the Chair mention ed in particular, Qatar 's 
macro economic policies. According to the report by the Secretariat, Qatar 's economy has exhibited 
significant economic growth and development since the last review. Japan hopes that Qatar will 
maintain this strong economic growth under the multilateral trading system. In addition, Qatar 
created its first national strategic document for future development in 2008, the Qatar National 
Vision 2030. Japan also hopes that Qatar will achieve further economic growth by accomplishing 
reform of its industrial structure, increased capacity building fo r talented people, and so on, along 
the economic strategy.  
4.95.  Now let me move to trade and trade -related policies. We have two points here: the WTO, 
and regional trade agreem ents and investment agreements.  
4.96.  First, the WTO. Japan commends Qatar 's contribution t o maintaining and strengthening the 
multilateral trading system represented by the WTO. In addition, Qatar has participated in the ITA. 
In the light of further trade liberalization, Japan hopes that Qata r will join the expanded ITA.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  4.97.  Second, regional trade  agreements and investment agreements. Qatar is a member of the 
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and the GCC has negotiated RTAs with third parties including 
Japan. In addition, Qatar is negotiating an investment agreement with Japan as well. Cooperating 
for an early conclusion of the investment agreement negotiation with Qatar, Japan hopes that the 
RTAs and investment agreements concluded by the GCC and Qatar will complement the 
multilateral trading system.  
4.98.  Now, let me turn to specific points. We will refe r to three points: strengthening the 
limitation of foreign investment, standards for tax exemption, a nd procedures of issuing visas.  
4.99.  First, strengthening the limitation of foreign investment. With regard to oil and na tural gas 
business, the Qatari G overnme nt has brought down the limitation on foreign investment to 20%. 
Japan hopes that Qatar will make efforts to relax the strict co nditions for foreign companies.  
4.100.   Second, tax exemptions. It is reported by some companies entering Qatar 's market that 
the standa rds for tax exemption are unclear and they are not certain whether they can receive the 
exemption until a decision is made on their application each year. Since foreign companies 
investing over the long term have large risks associated with the tax exempti on, Japan hopes that 
Qatar wil l make efforts to improve this.  
4.101.   Third, procedures for issuing visas. According to the report by the Secretariat, Qatar 
continues to encourage an open trade and investment climate. However, there seem to be some 
cases in which applications for business visas and resident visas by foreign correspondences are 
not accepted based on an unclear standard. In addition, it has also been reported that visas for 
foreign workers, for example, workers from India, Pakistan and the Philippine s, are not being 
admitted under these ambiguous standards. With regard to the latter, this makes it difficult for 
foreign companies to employ skilled technical experts. Japan hopes that Qatar will increase 
promptness of procedures in issuing visas and clar ify the standards regarding their issuance.  
AUSTRALIA  
4.102.   Over 4,000 Australians reside in Qatar and there are fourteen direct flights per week 
between Doha and Australia, with this number set to increase. Trade is dominated by Australian 
exports of live anima ls, passenger motor vehicles and meat, whi le Qatar is a source of fertiliz ers 
and liquefied propane.  
4.103.   As a net food exporter with vast tracts of agricultural land ripe for foreign investment, 
Australia can play an important role in Qatar 's food security str ategy. Australia welcomes Qatari 
investment in farms across Australia, including in wheat and barley farms, and sheep stations. 
Qatar is a valued source of foreign direct investment, and we would encourage further investment, 
including i n other sectors of our economy.  
4.104.   Australia commends the Qatari Governme nt for its push to establish a "knowledge 
economy"  and to become the centre of educational excellence in the Gulf region. The number of 
Qatari students currently studying in Australia is small, but both si des see education a s an area of 
potential growth.  
4.105.   Our questions for this review reflect our interest in developing commercial ties with Qatar 
in potential growth ar eas. We look forward to the Qatari delegation 's responses and wish them a 
successful trade policy review.  
4.106.   Finally, Australia would like to highlight its interest in resuming negotiations on a free trade 
agreement between Australia and the Gulf Cooperation  Council. Such an agreement  would help our 
countries realiz e much more of the potential that  exists in our trade and investment relationships.  
We seek the support of Qatar in promoting a resumption of negotiations with their GCC partners.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  TURKEY  
4.107.   I should first like to underline the fact that , in addition to our deep historical ties, Turkey 
maintains excellent economi c and political relations with Q atar. Although our current bilateral trade 
volume is under far b elow our countries ' potential, w e have high expectations for our medium and 
long term bilateral trade  and investment relations with Q atar. 
4.108.   As was also expressed by the Chairman, our discussant and many delegations, Q atar has 
achieved an impressive economic growth and development since the last TPR with a minor side 
effect such as moderate inflation. Q atar is currently one of the most compet itive and dynamic 
economies of the globe.  
4.109.   I would also like to underline that, we should all appreciate Q atar's double digit economic 
growth and its overall  trade opening process, especially under the current economic conditions in 
which negative eff ects of the global financial crisis and unstable global commodity markets still 
prevail over.  
4.110.   As Minister Altani has underlined, Q atar is committed to an open and transparent trade 
regime, aiming at complying with the multilateral the rules of the WTO and compet itive principles 
of global economy. Q atar sees trade policy as instrumental for the c ountry 's long term social and 
economic development. In this context, I should like to emphasize  and appreciate the fact that, 
Qatar has made huge investment on its educati on and health sectors and prioritized these sectors.  
4.111.   Between 2005 and 2013, Qatar has demonstrated a 13.7 % ave rage economic growth 
performance. This historic growth rate was achieved through mainly hydrocarbon extraction and 
infrastructural investment. How ever, as we conclude from the statement of Minister Altani, Q atar 
has a firm and comprehensive diversification strategy which, in this regard, has already produced 
encouraging results.  
4.112.   As was also underlin ed in their Government report, Q atar has also under gone one of the 
most significant economic, social and human  transformation since the last Trade Policy Review: 
The country 's population has been doubled from 200 5 to a little over million  by the end of 2013. In 
response, Q atar seems to have been implementi ng coherent strategies to reap the benefits and 
positive externalities arising from this demographic development such as scale economies and 
additional aggregate demand.  
4.113.   Coming to trade front, Q atar in general maintains overall an open trade and investment  
regime which has a very low lev el of customs tariffs (around 5 %). As Minister Altani also clarified, 
Qatar has also been spending important efforts in conducti ng its own comprehensive review  to 
renew and improve its trade, investment, IPR regime.  
4.114.   We beli eve that  harmonization of regulations among the GCC members will also contribute 
to this process. D uring the period under review, Q atar has further improved and developed its 
customs clearance system, reducing the time and transaction costs drastically. Q atar has also 
contributed positively to the multilateral process under the WTO Doha Development Agenda 
negotiations.  
4.115.   Like any other WTO Members, of course, Q atar has a room to further liberalize and revise 
its trade and investment regime, its tariff struct ure, SPS, and sectoral regulations. As we read 
from its Government report, we are learning that Qatar is already  bolstering this process by 
implementing a diversification strategy away from construction and hydrocarbon sectors towards 
services,  manufacturi ng and knowledge based industries.  
4.116.   We are also happ y to read from the Secretariat report that Q atari authorities are working 
on to rectify the problem concerning a six customs tariff lines which are currently above their legal 
bound level. Addi tionally, we  also believe that Q atar can improve its country of origin 
authentication process.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  4.117.   One final factual point is that  Turkey had signed ECTC and RPPI Agreement s with Q atar in 
1985 and in 2001 respectively. Both Agreements are currently in force. However, Table 4.5 of the 
Secretariat r eport in page 27 does not contain these two Agreements. We would appreciate if the 
Secretariat could put this information into this table.  
BRAZIL  
4.118.   The economy of Qatar has experienced solid growth since its last review. The GDP gro wth 
ranged from 12% to 26% during the past 10 years. These results become even more impressive 
taking into account high level of per capita income in Qatar, ranking second in the world.  
4.119.   Qatar 's exports have nearly tripled since 2007. We commend Qatar for a lso being able to 
diversify its exports, building a more solid and resilient economy. Non -energy exports expanded in 
the period under review, reaching 12% of exports in 2012.  
4.120.   Regarding the trade flow with Brazil, from 2009 to 2013, the commercial exchange grew 
315%, from US$221 million to US$915 million. In this period, Brazilian exports to Qatar grew by 
71.3%, while Brazilians imports from Qatar grew by more than 1000%.  
4.121.   There is still an enormous potential for further increasing trade ties between Brazil a nd 
Qatar. Hosting FIFA 's World Cup in 2022 may help Qatar in its strategy to further diversify its 
economy. Brazil, hosting the World Cup this year, can be a partner of Qatar in this process.  
4.122.   From these data, it is evident the relevance of trade relations between Brazil and Qatar. 
The country is an important commercial partner to Brazil. Brazil 's exporters are concentrated in 
basic products, especially iron ore and meat, while Brazil imports fertilizer, fuel and aluminium.  
4.123.   Despite this positive retrospect, there is room for improvement in our bilateral trade 
relations. With this object in mind, Brazil presented questions to Qatar regarding SPS measures. 
Brazil currently faces trade restrictions regarding Brazilian bovine meat and meat products, due to 
sanita ry concerns in relation to the risk of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), despite the 
OIE's recognition of Brazil as a country with negligibl e risk for such disease.  
4.124.   Brazil stands ready to further enhance its cooperation and trade ties with Qatar.  
INDIA 
4.125.   India has a long history of friendly r elations with Qatar marked by commercial ties  and 
people to people contact. The relationship today is rich,  close and multi dimensional. The large 
Indian community in Qatar acts as a catalyst for enhanced ties across  the spectrum of bilateral 
relations. While hydrocarbon sector dominates the relationship, there is a commitment at the 
highest level from both sid es to strengthen  and broaden the relationship. The quadrupling of the 
bilateral trade from US$ 4.17 billion in  2008-09 to US $16.38 billion within a period of 4 years from 
2008-09 to 2012 -13 shows the level of engagement between India and Qatar. For the last several 
years we have seen a d ouble digit growth in bilateral  trade. Over the years , India has become an 
important export destination for Qatar 's exports  within a period from 2006 to 2012, India 's share 
in Qatar 's exp orts have risen from 4.9% to 11 %. The High Level Monitoring Mechanism set up 
during the visit of Indian Prime Minister to Qatar in 2008 and the Joi nt Commission have been 
successfully monitoring the progress of the bilateral economic and trade relations.  
4.126.   We are glad to know that that during the period of this review, Qatar has seen significant 
economic growth, with double digit growth in GDP. While the exports have tripled since 2007 on 
account of the strong hydrocarbon sector, there has also been a marked improvement in its 
non-energy sector which has reached a level of 12 % of its total export basket. We also welcome  
Qatar 's focus on developing a knowledge based economy by investing the resource s from the 
hydrocarbon sector in improving education, infrastructure, healthcare, sustainable development 
and innovation. We are confident that the long term goal set th rough the Qatar national 
Vision  2030 cou ld be achieved much before 2030 by looking at the pace of development under the WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  four pillars of human, social, economic and environment and on account of the fulfilment of targets 
set by Qatar national development strategy 2011 -16.   
4.127.   We welcome steps taken  by Qatar since 2005 to amend number of its laws relating to 
trade and investment so as to make it easier for the businessmen to do business. The single 
windo w clearance system  for customs  at all kinds of ports is also noteworthy since it has reduced 
the t ime for clearance to just 15 minutes. While we understand the sensitivities of Qatar in 
allowing only established Qatari businessmen to import goods, we feel that there is a need to 
simplify commercial registration procedures for the foreigners so that the y are not discriminated. 
As regards the tariffs, while we appreciate lower applied tariffs across all the sectors, there is a 
need to r ationalize the tariffs relating to few steel and tobacco products where the applied rates 
have exceeded the bound ra te. As far as the sectors like s ervices and IPRs are concerned we are 
glad that Qatar  has abided by its commitments.  
4.128.   Finally, let me congratulate Qatar for its focus on becoming a develope d economy by 
diversifying into non-energy sectors . 
THAILAND  
4.129.   Qatar is Thai land's fourth largest trading partner in the Middle East. During 2011 -2013, our 
bilateral trade increased substantially and the total trade value averaged at US$3.4 billion . At the 
end of 2013 , there was an increase of bilateral trade by 48 % from 2012. We hope that our trade 
relationship will continue to grow bilaterally and through ASEAN -Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) 
collaboration.  
4.130.   We commend Qatar on its leading econom ic role in the global economy.  Notably, we 
commend Qatar 's significant economic growth which remained in double -digits during most of the 
review period, its wo rld-ranking high GDP per capita  as well as its efforts to diversify its economy 
and the continuing maintenance of an open trade and investment climate.  
4.131.   Thailand also very much apprecia tes the growing relationship between the GCC and 
ASEAN, which in turn supports our  bilateral trade relationship. We consider the third ASEAN -GCC 
Ministerial Meeting in Manama, Bahrain, in November last y ear a very noteworthy occasion.  At that 
meeting, both  sides recognized the importance of enhancing economic and trade cooperation in 
the agricultural field, expressed supports for an open, fair, and transparent multilateral trading 
system, and looked forward to a successful outcome of the WTO M inisterial Con ference in Bali. 
ASEAN and the GCC also discussed future cooperation in different areas, for instance, trade and 
investment, economic development, and education and culture.  
4.132.   In closing, Thailand would like to express its appreciation to the delegation of Q atar for 
today 's presentation. We again reiterate our hopes for developing further our bilateral trade 
relationship and support the growing cooperation between ASEAN and the GCC . 
JORDAN  ON BEHALF  OF THE ARAB  GROUP  
4.133.   Qatar 's economy has shifted gears rapidly from promise to delivery. Both the Secretariat 
and the Government reports point out that Qatar exhibited remarkable resilience over the last 
decade. Real GDP growth during the period 2005 -2013 was impressive at an annual average rate 
of 13.7%, in spite of the world financial crisis of 2008 -2010 and a decline in r eal estate prices 
during 2010. As both reports point out, this reflects high energy prices but also the emergenc e of 
a growing service sector. It is well remarked that Qatar 's rapid economic growth has enabled it to 
emerge as one of the wealthiest countries in the world in terms of GDP per capita.  
4.134.   Qatar 's economy is still highly dependent on oil and gas extraction which accounts for 
more than 50% of GDP, 85% of export earnings, and 70% of government  revenues. In order to 
secure the stability of future social  and economic development, the G overnment has been exerting 
consistent efforts to diversify the economy away from hydrocarbons into a susta inable long -term 
income model. By setting out this wise p lan, based on the guiding principles spelled out by the 
Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Qatar National Development Strategy 2011 -2016, Qatar WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  continues to create a sustainable economy capable of providing high standards of living for its 
people.  
4.135.   As a me mber of the GAFTA and of the GCC, Qatar has proved its commitment to free trade 
and the multilateral trading system. Consistent with this, and based on GAFTA principles, Qatar 
provides special treatments to Least Developed Countries. The Arab states apprec iate this as well 
as the important role that Qatar is playing in the region where it has shown ample proof of its 
pledge to continue working towards promoting regional economic development and a deeper 
integration with the multilateral trading system.  
HOND URAS  
4.136.   There can be no doubting the extraordinary performance of Qatar 's economy over the last 
few years, as revealed by its high real GDP growth rate. Since 2005, the country 's authorities have 
put in place policy -making processes and instruments to provide  maximum flexibility of  response 
to world economic events, which proved particularly helpful in  the aftermath of the global financial 
crisis.  
4.137.   Moreover, its successful election as host of the 2022 football World Cup is speeding 
up large-scale infrastructure  projects. This is expected to complement investment initiatives 
already in place as part of its ongoing economic development efforts since the early 2000s. 
As a result, the economy has consistently diversified away from hydrocarbon production with 
service s and construction, in particular, increasing their contribution to real GDP growth.  
4.138.   Its economic policy is centred on the development of unassociated natural gas reserves 
and an increase in private and foreign investment in non -energy sectors. Nonetheless , oil and gas 
continue to generate a large share of its GDP and export earnings, making it the  world 's second 
ranked country in terms of per capita income and one of the countries with the  lowest 
unemployment rate in the world.  
4.139.   In the Government Report, we  are pleased to note the strategic efforts being made by the 
Qatari government in terms of economic and social policy, including the National Vision 2030 
program, which envisages development of the country 's full potential, to enable it to sustain 
its own economic development and guarantee a high standard of living for future generations, 
based on four development pillars: human, social, economic, and environmental.  
4.140.   Although private -sector development remains one of the key challenges, the Qatari 
Government  is currently taking steps to support training and backing for entrepreneurs, which will 
contribute to the diversification of its economy and boost the domestic market.  
4.141.   From the Secretariat Report we also note that Qatar has promoted an open trade 
and investment policy in recent years, partly to help diversify its economy. We welcome the 
2011-2016 National Development Strategy, in which Qatar has set the goal of creating a more 
competitive economy, reducing the barriers that obstruct market entry, and stren gthening 
competition. Similarly, its policy of continuing the progressive liberalization of foreign investment 
restrictions by opening up more sectors that currently have restrictions. The  Government also 
intends to expand services liberalization under the  auspices of the General Agreement on Trade 
in Services (GATS).  
4.142.   On a bilateral level, diplomatic relations between our two countries have only existed since 
May 2012; but Honduras wishes to reaffirm its commitment and interest in strengthening them, 
with a  view to identifying objectives and developing potential agreements in the economic sphere.  
KUWAIT  ON BEHALF  OF THE GCC 
4.143.   Since Qatar 's previous TPR in 2005, Qatar 's economy has witnessed significant and positive 
changes. Qatar National Vision of 2030 and Qa tar's National Development Strategy are well 
underway to successful completion as Qatar continues creating a more diverse and robust 
economy. Utilizing the wealth generated by oil and natural gas to promote social and economic WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  advancement has proved to be a successful strategy. In this regard, we would like to highlight 
Qatar 's progressive approach towards development as Qatar is investing heavily in many sector s 
and is on track to become a knowledge based economy, no longer dependent on fossil fuels.  
4.144.   To this end, the Qatari Government has taken significant efforts to liberalize trade. We can 
see, through both reports, that there has been an overhaul of its foreign investment regime that 
has led to more opportunities and opened up the domestic market. This f orced the authorities to 
expand monetary policy by creating of additional instruments in order to create more efficient 
transmission mechanisms and improve structural liquidity. The use of bilateral investment and 
double taxation agreements has complemente d the legal basis provided by Qatar 's commitments 
to the multilateral trading system as well.  
4.145.   We also note the efforts made by Qatar to bring transparency to policy making, including 
making legislation openly available through the Internet and the Official  Gazette.  
TUNISIA  
4.146.   My delegation congratulates Qatar for the substantial efforts it has made in pursuing 
its economic and trade liberalization policy by reinforcing the liberalization process, simplifying 
foreign trade procedures, establishing an environmen t conducive to the development 
of investment, and expanding and diversifying its trade and economic relations with 
its principal  partners.  
4.147.   Since its last Trade Policy Review, Qatar has undergone significant economic, human 
and social changes. The economy, previously based on hydrocarbons production, 
has systematically diversified, particularly towards the services sector, which has developed on  the 
back of population growth.  
4.148.   Qatar has recorded significant economic growth and development. Its GDP has continu ed 
to post two -digit growth rates during most of the review period.  
4.149.   The energy sector, natural gas in particular, remains the spinal cord of Qatar 's industrial 
production and trade. In possession of the world 's third -largest reserves, the country has regul arly 
increased production during the review period.  
4.150.   Qatar 's banking and insurance sector has also grown and developed during the review 
period, particularly with the creation of the Qatar Financial Centre and development of the Islamic 
finance subsector.  
4.151.   In addition, diversification and investment in several service sectors such as transport, 
construction and tourism, have helped stimulate the economy over the last few years, and need 
to be maintained as the 2022 FIFA World Cup approaches. Investment in the  education and health 
sectors, which form part of the Qatar National Vision 2030 should develop its  knowledge -based 
economy.  
4.152.   Tunisia attaches great importance to the long -standing cooperative relationship that exist 
between our two countries. Tunisia benef its from a large number of projects carried out by Qatar. 
Our two countries are determined to strengthen and consolidate this cooperation in  all areas.  
URUGUAY  
4.153.   Uruguay welcomes the delegations of Qatar, Bahrain and Oman to this important forum 
of the multi lateral system.  
4.154.   In these brief remarks, we would like to mention that an official mission led by the 
Chancellor of the Republic, Luis Almagro, accompanied by the Minister of Transport and Public 
Works, Enrique Pintado, is currently visiting the State of Qa tar and other countries in the region, 
as part of a tour that aims to expand and intensify economic and commercial ties.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  4.155.   In view of this, expectations are centred on the potential for increasing trade in both 
directions, on the one hand through participati on in maritime and air transport infrastructure 
projects, while Uruguay aims to expand its presence in Qatar through agricultural products such 
as beef, poultry, rice, citrus fruits, dried fruits, blueberries and cereals.  
4.156.   Qatar has the potential to be an i mportant partner in Uruguay, which is a gateway to the 
Southern Cone.  
4.157.   Lastly, Uruguay wishes the three Member countries reviewed the very best in this 
important exercise . WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  BAHRAIN AND OMAN  
5  INTRODUCTORY REMARKS  BY THE CHAIRPERSON   
5.1.  The third Trade Policy Review of Bahrain and the second Trade Policy Review of Oman was 
held on 22 and 24 April 2014. The Chairperson H.E. Mr Joakim Reiter (Sweden) welcomed 
Mr. Nader Almoayyed , Undersecretary of Commerce Affairs, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, 
as head of the d elegation of Bahrain, and Mr. Ahmed  Al-Dheeb , Under -secretary of the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry, as head of the delegatio n of Oman;  the rest of the delegations from 
Manama and from Muscat, colleagues from both missions in Geneva ; and the discussant,  
H.E. Mr. Syafri Adnan  Baharuddin  (Indonesia) . 
5.2.  The Chairperson recalled the purpose of the Trade Policy Reviews and the main elements of 
the procedures for the meeting. The report s by Bahrain and Oman were contained in document s 
WT/TPR/G/294  and WT/TPR/G/2 95, and that of the  WTO Secretariat in WT/TPR/S/294 and 
WT/TPR/S/295 . 
5.3.  Questions by the following delegations had been submitted in writing at least two weeks in 
advance and had been transmitted to the delegation s of Bahrain and Oman : Pakistan; United 
State s; China; the European Union; Singapore; Hong Kong, China; Colombia; Mexico; Canada; 
Republic of Korea; Malaysia; Japan; and Australia.  The following delegations submitted written 
questions after the two week deadline: Turkey, India and Thailand.  
5.4.  Since Bah rain's last review in 2007, its overall economy had  continued to grow, mainly driven 
by the oil sector – despite the global financial crisis, some sporadic domestic tensions since 2011, 
and reductions in oil production in 2012.  
5.5.  Like other similar countrie s, Bah rain strived  to reduce its reliance on a few commodities. 
Bahrain 's development strategy, Economic Vision 2030, was helping Bahrain reduce its high 
dependence on oil and gas given that its hydrocarbon resources were limited. T his diversification 
strategy had  helped develop key sectors in the economy, most notably the services and 
manufacturing sectors. The services sector, led by financial services, contributed to 58% of 
Bahrain 's real GDP in 2012, while the manufacturing sector based on Bahrain 's com parative 
advantages in energy -intensive industries (mainly aluminium and petrochemicals) contributed 
15.2% of real GDP.  
5.6.  Bahrain continued  to pursue trade liberalization on the regional and bilateral tracks. As a 
member of the GC C Customs Union, Bahrain ap plied the common external tariff with a few 
exceptions; its applied MFN tariff rates average d 5.1%. Like oth er GCC States, Bahrain maintained  
its own list of restr icted and prohibited products. Bahrain was also a member of the Pan -Arab Free 
Trade Area (PAF TA) Treaty . In addition, it had  a free trade agreement with the United States.  
5.7.  Overall, this Review provided  an excellent opportunity to exchange views on matters of 
interest to Members. These include d: 
 As an original Member of the WTO, Bahrain valued  the importance of the Multilateral Trading 
 System as it offered  market access opportunities for smaller economies, like Bahrain 's. It 
 had bound a vast majority of its tariffs, mostly at a ceiling rate of 35%; however, around 
 24 lines for tobacco and alcohol  products were bound at 100% and 200% respectively, and 
 some 30% of tariff lines remain ed unbound. Since its last review, Bahrain became an 
 observer to the WTO Plurilateral Agreement on  Government Procurement (but had  not 
 begun accession negotiations) a nd it was also participant to the WTO Information 
 Technology Agreement. Finally, Bahrain was yet to meet a number of notification 
 requirements under certain WTO Agreements such as TRIPS.  
 Bahrain 's foreign investment regime was relatively liberal, with th e possibility of 100% 
 foreign ownership in most businesses; however, a number of business activities were 
 reserved for Bahraini nationals and GCC citizens. Members had inquired about plans to 
 reduce these FDI restrictions.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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   Bahrain undertook GATS commitm ents only on financial services, the cornerstone of 
 Bahrain 's diversifi cation strategy, although it had  unilaterally liberalized other services 
 sectors, such as telecommunications. For Bahrain to reap maximum benefits from its 
 unilateral liberalization efforts, a question could be posed whether it was ready to lock -in 
 these  reforms under the GATS.  
5.8.  Regarding Oman:  
5.9.  Since Oman 's last TPR in 2008, its economy had  grown strongly, sustained by growing oil 
production and high oil prices. As a result of its im pressive economic gr owth, Oman 's foreign trade 
had more than doubled between 2006 and 201 2. Macroeconomic indicators had  remained sound 
during the period under review, with low inflation rates, a generally balanced fiscal position, and 
current account surp luses.  
5.10.  Oman 's main economic goals were to support growth by boosting productivity, to diversify 
production and exports away from oil, to maintain its good macroeconomic performance, and to 
create employment opportunities for Omanis. Against the background  of dwindling oil reserves and 
a rapidly growing labour force, a new Long -term Development Strategy (Vision 2040) was 
currently under preparation.  
5.11.  In terms of its trade policy, there had been no major changes or significant deviations from 
Oman 's tradition al open trade regime since the last TPR. Oman, a WTO Member since 
November  2000, was a strong advocate of the mul tilateral trading system. It had  bound 100% of 
its tariff lines and was an active participant in the Doha round. It was also an observer to the  WTO 
Agreement on Government Procurement and participant to the WTO Information Technology 
Agreement. At the same time, Oman was a member of the GCC Customs Union . Oman was also a 
member of the Pan -Arab Free -Trade Area (PAFTA) Treaty . It had  a free -trade a greement with the 
United States and, through the GCC, with Singapore . 
5.12.  There were a number of specific areas that had been highlighted in the reports or raised by 
Member s and could deserve particular attention in this Review meeting.  
 Current import procedur es require d that commercial invoices and certificates of origin be 
 authenticated by an Omani Consulate or representative in the country of origin before the 
 goods were exported to Oman.  
 All foreign investment required  approval by the Government, and fore ign investment in 
 companies with capital of RO 150,000 or less was banned. In practice, foreign ownership 
 above this threshold was allowed up to 70% as per Oman 's WTO commitments and 
 implementing regulations. Members wish ed to learn more about possible changes in Oman 's 
 FDI policy in light of its current revision and about the revitalization of Oman 's privatization 
 plans.  
 Since its last TPR , Oman had  amended its legislation on intellectual property rights. IPR 
 issues of interest to Members include d the scope of protection of individual IPRs, 
 enforcement activities, and the relationship between Oman 's IPR legislation and 
 international agreements.  
5.13.  The Chairperson was sure that these topics and themes, and many others, would be 
touched upon in greater detail at their deliberations on the first  and second day of the meeting .  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  6  OPENING STATEMENT BY  THE REPRESENTATIVE O F BAHRAIN  (MR. NADER 
ALMOAYYED ) 
6.1.  I would like to thank you , Chairman, for your kind words of welcome  and introduction to 
Bahrain 's third Tra de Policy Review. Special thanks to H.E. Ambassador of Indonesia,  Mr. Syafri 
Adnan Baharudding, for accepting to be our discussant. I would also like to thank the WTO 
Secretariat 's team for their hard work in producing the report which provides a basis for  our 
discussion.  
6.2.  I would like also to welcome H.E. Mr Ahmed Al -Dheeb, Undersecretary of the Ministry of 
Commerce and Industry , the Head of the Sultanate of Oman 's Delegation, which is undertaking 
the presentation of Omani Trade Policy Review during this se ssion, as foreseen by the WTO 
Secretariat, in anticipation of a joint Trade Policy Review of all GCC countries in 2017.  
6.3.  First of all, let me extend our congra tulations to all of the WTO M embership and to the 
Director -General , Mr. Roberto Azevêdo , for the s uccessful conclusion of the Bali Ministerial 
Conference  and the remarkable breakthroug h towards the DDA early harvest  by concluding the 
Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
6.4.  The post Bali follow -up effo rts by the WTO Director General  and the Chairs of the Negotiat ing 
Groups on other  DDA issues are also welcome.  
6.5.  In Bahrain, we view the trade policy review as one of the important functions of the WTO and 
the Multilateral Trading System (MTS). This process does not only ensure transparency and 
predictability for the M ultilateral Trading System, but also affords a greater awareness and 
understanding of a Member 's trade policies and practices, and the legitimate reasons behind them. 
Its contribution to monitor and contain the surge of protectionism, and unilateral trade distortive 
measures could not be underestimated.  
6.6.  More importantly, these reviews  provide a platform for M ember S tates to share policy 
initiatives and measures, and enhance the national coordination and implementation of such 
initiatives and meas ures withi n Government entities, the business community and private 
stakeholders.  
6.7.  At this point,  let me also thank all the WTO M embers for their keen interest in revie wing our 
reports  and making their valid written questions and comm ents ahead of our meeting today  to 
which, our dedicated staff , has been able to respond and provide explanations and answers prior 
to our meeting today. In this regard, we have to give due credit to the mindful cooperation and 
timely responsiveness shown by competent Bahraini Ministries a nd Agencies.    
6.8.  As a developing economy that thrives on free trade, Bahra in believes that a strong 
rules-based multilateral trading system is the best guarantee against unilateralism and 
protectionism and provides stability, security, transparency, and pre dictability for traders, and is a 
prerequisite for long -term global economic growth and development.  
BAHRAIN BUSINESS FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT  
6.9.  Our inclusive TPR exercise today, based on the comprehensive technical and institutional 
reports, your valuable quest ions and comments, and our answers to them , confirms that Bahrain 
business environment is one of the most efficient, rewarding and friendly among peer developing 
countries.  
6.10.  An outstanding indication of Bahrain 's early drive for international investment an d trading 
transactions is evidenced by its first discovery and commercial drilling of oil in the whole region in 
1932, by  the Bahrain Petroleum Company "BAPCO"  incorporated in Canada in 1929, with the help 
of an American oil exploration corporation, Bahrai ni and Indian technicians, and resulting in the 
first oil shipment from our region to Japan in 1934.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  6.11.  Bahrain 's traditional economic and business freedom, duly acclaimed by the World Bank and 
several global rating agencies and forums have be en enhanced sin ce our founding M embership to 
the WTO, in 1995. Hence, we have been working harder to render Bahrain one of the most 
attractive, friendly and worthwhile business destinations worldwide.   
6.12.  One of the major economic policy developments in Bahrain since our l ast TPR in 2007  is the 
2008 launching of the Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, pronouncing the principles of fairness, 
competitiveness and sustainability to the Bahraini society  and to attain a globally competitive 
knowledge based economy.  
6.13.  In order to achieve  this long -term vision, a National Economic Strategy was developed to 
boost private sector growth, while the Government creates an enabling environment by investing 
in infrastructure projects, for enhancing productivity and skills; and focusing on high tec hnology 
led manufacturing, and downstream high-potential sectors.  
6.14.  The Government is already limiting its role to regulatory and enabling policies for the 
business environment for Bahraini and international enterprises as follows:  
 Continue to develop stimul ating policies for the development and diversification of industry 
 and trade expansion bilaterally, regionally and internationally.  
 Emphasize the importance of small and medium industries and encourage technology 
 oriented industries and knowledge based b usiness sectors.  
 Strengthening of infrastructure and services in various industrial areas, including the Bahrain 
 International Investment Park (BI IP), and the projected grander "Economic City".  
 The development of business related services to citizens, in vestors and private banking 
 services and strengthen their rules and regulatory systems.  
 Continue to facilitate the procedures for online registration and operation of projects and 
 businesses.  
 Enhance the pro fessional skills, and boost the  competitive edg e of the financial sector 
 embracing over 400 insti tutions, with approximately US$ 190 billion assets, with no 
 restrictions on foreign exchange or the movement of funds . 
 The availability of business environment model with stable national currency exchange rate 
 and low inflation rates. Full foreign ownership of industries is encouraged and permanent 
 residency with quality social, medical and educational se rvices are also enjoyed by 
 non-Bahraini investors and professionals.  
 Continued cooperation and integr ation in trade and economic policies with the GCC 
 countries, the larger MENA region, and the FTA with the USA, are yielding trade benefits for 
 exports originating in Bahrain, in  the form of customs exemptions  as well as further 
 bilateral and regional ec onomic integration benefits.  
 The efficient implementation of WTO agreements and applications of industrial and 
 intellectual property protection, and international quality standards and mechanisms to 
 facilitat e trade. The implementation of the FTA with th e USA since 2006 has also encouraged 
 Bahrain to conduct extra WTO commitments for trade liberalization and open trade policy 
 measures.   
EVIDE NT ECONOMIC REWARDS FOR BAHRAIN  
6.15.  I must admit  that the outcome of our business friendly environment was equally r ewarding 
and beneficiary for Bahrain, its trading partners, and its prominent business community:  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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   Bahrain is leading a primary trading economy. According to the World Bank, Bahrain 's 
 merchandise trade represents about 117% of the GDP in 2012, ranking high er than most of 
 the MENA region and OECD c ountries.  
 Total assets in the Bahrain i Banking system - averaging US$192 billion in 2012  is more than 
 6 times the GD P of Bahrain, which totaled US$ 30.4 billion for the same year.  
 The per -capita income GDP (PPP) o f Bahrainis is about US$29,200 (2012 estimates ), which 
 is among the upper ranking within the developing countries.  
 Bahraini inward tourism records show increasing visito rs to Bahrain, totaling over 8 m illion 
 in 2012, which represent more than 12 times th e total number of the Bahraini population.  
 The number of non -Bahraini residents exceeds the total population of Bahrain. While the 
 great majority is actively contributing to the country 's economic activities, many prefer to 
 make Bahrain their residence o f choice.  
 Furthermore, a recent study of the GCC Center for Strategic Studies about Intra -GCC 
 investment flows showed that Bahrain has attracted the highest percentage of these 
 investments since the establishment of the GCC in 1981. Bahrain 's share of su ch 
 investments until 2010 amounted to US$53 billion, representing about 36% of the total 
 inter-GCC investments (US$147  billion).  
 Besides, the great majority of GCC investments in Bahrain (i.e.  73.5%), were done from the 
 year 2000 onwards, which is a cle ar testimony of the liberal and friendly business climate 
 that prevailed in Bahrain due to the continued political, economic, social, legislative and 
 labour reforms, especially during the reigning years of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al 
 Khalifa, over  the past decade.  
 Bahrain continues to be the freest economy in the Middle East/North Africa region according 
 to the 2014 Economic Freedom Index, and its economic freedom score is well above the 
 world average.  
 The World Economic Forum (WEF) 2011 -2012 Glo bal Competitiveness Report has placed 
 Bahrain among the ultimate stage of development as defined by the World Economic Forum 
 report, i.e. "Innovation -Driven"  stage, along with most of the major member countries of 
 the Organization for Economic Co operati on and Development (OECD).  
 More recently, the 2012/13 Global Free Zones of the Future Top 50 Rankings, released by 
 Foreign Direct Investment Magazine has included four zones in Bahrain. Such recognition 
 shows how far Bahrain has gone in establishing its industrial diversification and regional 
 supply chain logistics infrastructure.  
TRADE RELATED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
6.16.  Bearing in mind the time pressure on your esteem Committee, I will skip sectoral highlights, 
which has been duly reflected in our review repo rts, and limit myself to trade related technical 
assistance;  
6.17.  At the national level, our Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) being the focal point 
for WTO and international trade relations, aims at encountering these challenges and meeting its 
internat ional obligations with the maintenance of an open transparent and market driven business 
environment so as develop Bahrain 's economic competitiveness, attaining the benefits of access to 
regional and international markets, and to encourage inward investmen t, at the same time 
promoting employment for the local population.  
6.18.  Accordingly, the MOIC has launched a self -financed Global Economic Environment and 
Governance project in coordination jointly with UNDP. The project has been in operation for three 
phases from 2002 till 2014. It has been yielding constructive results for Bahrain 's efficient WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  participation in the Doha Round, the competent implementation of the TRIPS, SPS, and TBT 
Agreements, and the successful conclusion of the Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
6.19.  However, a full range of focused technical cooperation requirements is still needed from the 
WTO Secretariat, as well as other agencies, especially in the fiel ds indicated in our Government 
report.  
6.20.  Before concluding , I would like to express our sincere appr eciation for the joint technical and 
institutional contributions of all concerned to make this third TPR for us a positive, productive and 
successful event. I would like also to commend your able chairma nship to our TPR Committee, to 
our d iscussant H.E. Am bassador. Syafri Adnan Baharudding  as well as all the Distin guished 
Delegations of all WTO M embers who have contributed with their valuable advance comments and 
questions to the enrichment of our Trade Policy Review.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  7  OPENING STATEMENT BY  THE REPRESENTATIV E OF OMAN  (MR. AHMED  AL-DHEEB ) 
7.1.  It is a great pleasure for me and my delegation to participate in the second Trade Policy 
Review of the Sultanate of Oman. For me personally, it is the first review and I am looking forward 
to this important exercise.  
7.2.  I am gr ateful to you, Mr  Chairman, for your introductory remarks which set the tone for this 
review. I am also grateful to the many distinguished delegates for t heir presence which 
demonstrates  their interest in Oman.  
7.3.  My sincere thanks to H.E. Mr. Syafri Adnan Ba haruddin, the Ambassador and Permanent 
Representat ive of Indonesia for acting as d iscussant. We would welcome his valuable comments.  
7.4.  I would also like to thank His Excellency Mr  Roberto Azevê do for his recent visit to  Oman 
which was the first Arab c ountry that he vis ited after his election as the Director G eneral of the 
WTO, and his meetings with Omani officials and his visit to some economic establishments, and 
thank him for his appreciation for the economic  achievements realized by Oman.  
7.5.  I would also like  to convey my deep appreciation to the WTO Secretariat, especially the Trade 
Policy Review Division, for its useful and comprehensive report on the economy and trade policy of 
Oman.  
7.6.  The Trade Policy Review Mechanism is one of the excellent success stories of the WTO. It has 
been useful in achieving transparency and greater understanding of Member 's trading policies and 
practices and the impact of those policies and practices on the multilateral trading system. The 
reviews thus lead to smoother functioning o f the multilateral trading system.  
7.7.  The reports by Oman and by the WTO Secretariat are before the distinguished delegates. 
These contain elaborate information on the economic and trade policies of the Sultanate of Oman. 
I will focus on some of the important  points.  
7.8.  The four pillars of Oman 's economic policy are: sustainable development with stable 
macroeconomic framework; a diversified, dynamic and globalized economy; advanced human 
resource development; and an efficient and competitive private sector . These  objectives of 
economic p olicy are achiev ed through the instruments of: liberalization, diversification and 
privatization.  
7.9.  The guiding spirit behind these ambitious policies is the vision of His Majesty the Sultan, with 
emphasis on implementing the plans a nd programmes aimed at enhancing comprehensive 
development in social and economic fields. The ultimate aim is the welfare and prosperity of the 
people. Economic and trade policies are geared towards this noble aim.  
7.10.  The Government has vigorously pursued the  policy of diversification of economy. The aim is 
to reduce dependence on oil. The policy is bearing fruit though the price of oil sometimes distorts 
the data. The share of non -oil activities in GDP has been on the increase. Similarly, the non -oil 
exports have significantly increased. The increase of non -oil exports from 2008 to 2012 was 83 % 
as against 38 % for total exports. One more indicator of the success of diversifi cation is the 
growing share of s ervices in the GDP which was 35.4 % in 2012.  
7.11.  Another imp ortant policy instrument is privatization which is  aimed at reducing the role of 
Government in the economy and putting the private sector in the driving seat for economic 
development. However, privatization of state enterprises has to be pur sued cautiously  with a view 
to building public consensus and avoiding political backlash. In this process , the interests of labour 
and consumers have to be safeguarded. Nevertheless, the commitment of Oman to privatization 
remains strong and firm.  
7.12.  The Government seeks to  approach privatization in a meaningful and structured manner 
taking into consideration all relevant factors, internal and external. After the successful 
privatization of 30% stake in Omantel (a leading telecom provider) in 2005, the Government was WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  keen to  proceed with further privatization but was hindered by the global financial crisis. With 
improvement in the investment climate, the Government has revived the privatization process with 
a view to achieving a fur ther 19% divestment in Omantel.  
7.13.  A number of state-owned entities have been identified for privatization and a Privatization 
Committee has already been tasked with the mandate to comprehensively study all aspects of 
privatization including detailed implementation plan and process, which would be anno unced in 
due course.  
7.14.  The investment regime of Oman underpins the objectives of liberalization, privatization and 
diversification. The investment regime is pro -growth and pro -business. 100 % foreign ownership is 
permissible under Oman 's investment regime, an d the rate of tax on foreign and domestic 
companies is only 12 %, which is very low by international standards.  
7.15.  Human resource development is one of the key elements of Oman 's economic policy. High 
grade education and excellent health facilities are provide d by the State to prepare the young 
Omanis to seize the opportunities and face the challenges in the globalize d economy of the 
21st Century. The youth are encouraged to acquire the necessary skills and expertise that will 
enable them in pushing forward the  wheel of development.  
7.16.  I could say much more on the economy of Oman, but since this a review of trade policy and 
not of economic polic y I would like to focus on developments in Oman 's foreign trade policy.  
7.17.  The Sultanate of Oman by its history and geography  has been an old trading nation. It 
knows fully well the value of open and liberal markets with stable and predictable conditions of 
trade. Even before Oman joined the WTO in 2000, it had been, in practice and as a matter of 
policy, following the principle s and rules of the multilateral trading system. Since its accession to 
the WTO, Oman 's trade policy conforms, in letter and spirit, to the principles and rules of the WTO. 
Our trade regime is free and liberal, transparent and business -friendly.  
7.18.  Oman is a genuine believer in the basic principles of the multilateral trading system and is a 
strong supporter of the WTO. The O rganization has stood the test of time and has been a force for 
expansion and liberalization of world trade. However, the WTO needs to be  further strengthened to 
fulfil its role as a bulwark against protectionism.  
7.19.  The main instrument of Oman 's trade policy is tariffs. These are simple and low, applied on 
an MFN basis, except for preferential imports. Oman has bound 100% of its tariffs, with  average 
bound tariff of 13.7% on all products, and 11.6% on non -agricultural products. These bound rates 
compare favourably with most WTO Members. The actually applied tariff rates are 0% and 5% for 
almost all products, with average applied tariff of 4.8% . 
7.20.  Questions may be raised on the gap between applied and bound rates. However, that is not 
in any way against WTO rules, which do not require the two rates to be the same or to be close.  
7.21.  As I said, tariff is the main instrument of Oman 's trade policy. We h ave no non -tariff 
measures, no import licensing, no prohibited TRIMS, no export subsidies. Oman has made a 
commitment not to apply export subsidies to agricultural or non -agricultural products. We do not 
apply any internal taxes to imports such as VAT, sal es tax and excise duties. Also we have bound 
other duties and charges at zero. May I say that very few WTO Members can match Oman 's record 
in this respect.  
7.22.  Oman has not applied any anti -dumping or countervailing duties nor has it taken any 
safeguard measur es since joining the WTO.  
7.23.  We have not l agged behind in opening -up our s ervices sector. Specific commitments were 
made on 10 sect ors and some 95 sub -sectors of s ervices.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  7.24.  The TRIPS Agreement has been implemented by providing IP laws and enforcement 
mechanism  for protection of intellectual property rights, even surpassing the standards of the 
TRIPS Agreement.  
7.25.  The Sultanate of Oman is a member of the GCC Customs Union and also a participant in the 
Pan-Arab Free Trade Area. We also have a Free -Trade Agreement wi th the United States and, as 
part of the GCC, an FTA with Singapore. However, Oman believes in the primacy of the multilateral 
trading system and considers regional and preferential trading arrangements as complimentary to 
the multilateral trading system.  
7.26.  Oman has been an active participant in the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations. 
The Round has lingered on for more than 13 years which is a matter of disappointment. However, 
the Bali Ministerial Conference held in December 2013 brought a rare ra y of hope. Bali package 
should serve as a stepping stone for the successful conclusion of Doha Round negotiations. Oman 's 
position on this is very clear. The original objectives of the negotiations must not be compromised 
or diluted. New subjects of negoti ations should not be added to the agenda. Understandings and 
compromises reached over the past years should be maintained. And most important of all: 
interests and concerns of developing countries must remain at the heart of the negotiations. It is 
time th at strenuous efforts are made by all WTO Members to conclude the Doha negotiations with 
a substantial package of results in a reasonably short time frame.  
7.27.  The Trade Policy Review Mechanism says that the Review should take place against the 
background of ex ternal environment of the Member under review. Let me say that the external 
environment of Oman is not very helpful. We have been at the receiving end of protectionist 
measures and actions. And the conditions of access for Omani products and services in ma ny WTO 
Members do not compare with those provided by Oman for its imports.  
7.28.  I would sum up by saying that Oman passionately believes in the basic principles and rules 
of the multilateral trading system as the best available for liberalization and expansion  of 
international trade, for the growth of world economy, for the economic development of developing 
countries and for the welfare and prosperity of people around the world.  
7.29.  I hope this meeting would conclude that Oman 's trade policies and practices have a  positive 
impact on the multilateral trading system.  
7.30.  Oman is grateful to the WTO S ecretariat, to other international  organizations and to some 
WTO M embers for providing technical assistance to Omani officials. There is always need for more 
technical assist ance. We particularly need more opportunities  for Omani officials to attend trade 
policy c ourses and in special possibility for Omani officials to work as interns in the WTO 
secretariat.   
7.31.  To conclude, I thank you, Mr  Chairman, for presiding over this sess ion and I convey my 
deep appreciation to distinguished delegates for sparing time to participate in Oman 's trade policy 
review. I would welcome your questions and comments and would try to respond to these to the 
fullest possible extent.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  8  STATEMENT BY THE DISCUSSANT   
8.1.  I feel honoured to be the discussant for the Trade Policy Review of the Kingdom of Bahrain 
and Oman this afternoon. Allow me to use this opportunity to also warmly welcome the delegation 
of Bahrain led by H .E. Mr. Nader Khalil Almoayyed, Unders ecretary of Commerce Affairs, Min istry 
of Industry and Commerce and the delegation of Oman led by H.E. Ahmed Hassan AL -Dheeb, 
Undersecretary of commerce and Industry, to Geneva.  
8.2.  Comparable to my view that I presented this morning in the TPR of Qatar, I wou ld also like to 
underline a number of economic aspects of the two M embers that will include economic 
achievement, macroeconomic development, some sectoral policies, the overall tariff regime, and 
foreign economic policies. I found that the data and informa tion on the two countries respective 
trade policies provided by the Secretariat and the Government of Bahrain and Oman in their 
reports have been very useful for my references.   
8.3.  It is widely known that with high level of GDP per capita, Bahrain and Oman e njoy the status 
of high -income countries. If we take a look at several achievement listi ngs, we can see that these 
two M embers managed to put themselves in respectable positions. Bahrain and Oman are ranked 
43rd and 33rd  respectively among 148 countries in  the Global Competitiveness Index published by 
WEF in 2013 -2014. Bahrain is on the 48th position in the Human Development Index according to 
the UNDP report for 2013 and at the 29th in the world for Network Readiness according to the 
Global Information Tec hnology Report issued by WEF. Oman is ranked 47th out of 184 countries in 
ease of doing business and 26th out of 152  countries in economic freedom.  
8.4.  Both countries, which are endowed with abundant hydrocarbon resources, have succe ssfully 
managed their advan tage in the energy sector to sustain their developments. With current 
persistent world oil price, their economies will be able to continue steadily its development path 
and keep up its current status in the world economy. Despite having relatively small po pulation, 
both countries are also able to overcome their demographic challenge and maintain v ibrant and 
resilient economies.  
8.5.  The open and transparent foreign trade regimes of both countries have complemented the 
benefits from soaring oil prices and product ion. During the period under review , Bahrain and Oman 
enjoyed steady real GDP growth and maintained their resilience against the global economic and 
financial crisis of 2008 to 2009.  
8.6.  Bahrain serves as an important hub for investment and trade in the regio n. Such a role is 
greatly supported by Bahraini long -standing tradition of openness, freedom and tolerance. Bahrain 
authority has successfully maintained the country 's financial stability to fulfil  the critical need to 
uphold this role and consolidate its position as an i nternational financial centre.  
8.7.  Compared to other countries in the region, Bahrain has relatively limited oil and natural gas 
reserves. The need to diversify in other sectors to guarantee future sustainability is therefore more 
compelling t han other fellow GCC members. Consequently, its economy has to explore non -energy 
sectors such as financ ial services and manufacturing.  The route to diversification is reflected in its 
long term objectives of Bahrain 's Economic Vision 2030, which aims for attaining sustainable 
development.  The fact that financial services account for some 17% of real GDP and the total 
services sector reached 58% in 2012 shows that Bahrain is in the right course to diversification. 
Bahrain 's diversification strategy also inc ludes industrialization, manufacturing a nd developing 
tourism industry.  
8.8.  Diversification also becomes an important agenda item for Oman. This country also 
implements economic policies and programmes to create a diversified national economy based on 
renewabl e resources and to increase its integration with the world economy. For Oman, these 
endeavours also include an intermediate shifting in which the share of oil is gradually being 
replaced by another hydrocarbon resource, which is natural gas. Oman envisages  reducing the 
share of oil in GDP to 9 % in 2020 and ra ising the share of gas to 10%.  
8.9.  Omani services sector has a great potential to be further developed to balance its gradual 
reduction of its dependence on hydrocarbon resources. Services sector has cont ributed about one WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  third to Oman 's GDP. Upon its accession to the WTO, Oman has also made commitments in most 
main services categories in its GATS schedule which include business, communication, construction 
and related engineering, distribution, educationa l, environmental, financial, health and related 
social, and tourism and travel -related.  
8.10.  Bahrain and Oman are strongly committed to increase its regional integration in the GCC 
Custom Union. Their foreign economic policies are very much influenc ed by their  memberships in 
the O rganization and gradually harmonized with other GCC members. Under the GCC scheme, 
both countries have common trade remedy laws and veterinary and plant quarantine systems.  
Their commitments in the GCC have also brought their tariff po licies aligned with the GCC 
Common External Tariff w hich consists of three rates 0. 5 and 100%. Around 87% tariff lines of 
both countries are at 5% and 11% tariff lines are at 0%. Most products from a GCC member 
circulate free of  duty across the customs uni on. 
8.11.  The Secretariat report shows that Bahrain and Oman are strong supporters of free markets 
and an open rules -based global trading system. Import restrictions are kept at the minimum and 
both countries have never taken any anti -dumping, countervailing or safeguard actions. This policy 
perhaps also relates to the fact that the two countries are net importers for several important 
products (which are manufactured products and food stuffs for Bahrain and fishery an d agricultural 
goods for Oman).  
8.12.  As Members of  the WTO, Bahrain and Oman are active participants in the Doha round and 
they continue to support the original objectives of the DDA. Both  Members believe that the 
interests of developing countries must remain at the heart of DDA negotiations. Both Bahrain  and 
Oman have common particular interests in NAMA and trade in services issues.   
8.13.  While I have touched upon the big challenge faced by the two countries in undertaking their 
diversification programmes, I would like also to highlight another significant ch allenge that has 
attracted my intention that is their dependence on foreign workforce. As a mat ter of fact, I also 
underlined this particular topic on the TPR of Qatar this morning since I see that such a challenge 
is a com mon feature in the Gulf region.  
8.14.  Having relatively small populations in the face of the large demand for workforce, Bahrain 
and Oman will still need the support of foreign workers to sustain its endeavours for further 
development. The 2011 data shows that 51% of 1.195.020 Bahrain 's populat ions are non -Bahraini 
nationals. For Oman, the number of expatriates doubled strongly between 2010 and 2013, from 
816,000 to nearly 1.7 million out of t otal population of 3 million .  
8.15.  Bahrain and Oman have been vigorously empowering their nationals through qualified 
education to meet the demand for profes sional positions  through the so -called Bahrainization and 
Omaniz ation programmes. Nevertheless, the massive works to preserve economic success and 
sustainability will inevitably still need the role of foreig n workforce. Against this backdrop, I believe 
that prudent immigration policies, improved labour relations and more developed system to ful fil 
migrant worker 's rights are crucial and must be continuously maintained. Such steps are important 
to ensure that their economic successes will not be diluted by unnecessary demographic problems 
in the future.  
8.16.  To conclude my statement as the discussant of this afternoon, allow me to express my 
confidence that, with their strong economic basis and visionary developmen t plans and strategies, 
Bahrain and Oman will be able to achieve their long -term visions towards sustainable, diversified, 
competitive, open, fair and knowledge -based economies.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
WT/TPR/M/295 • Oman  
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  9  STATEMENTS BY MEMBER S  
PAKISTAN  
9.1.  Bahrain rivals Malaysia as a cent re for Islam ic banking, and Dubai and Doha as a financial 
hub. It has a comprehensive prudential and reporting framework, and also home of the 
"Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions". It is one of the mos t 
diversified countries in the  Gulf and has gained visible competitive advantage in the financial 
services and production of aluminium – Alba (Aluminium Bahrain) is one of the world 's largest 
aluminium smelters. Bahrain is also a net exporter of services. Bahrain was the 1st country in  the 
region to sign an FTA with the US.  
9.2.  Bahrain has been posting wholesome balance of payments, current account surpluses and 
trade surplus that nearly tripled during the review period. It has had a low inflation rate, on 
average (2%). Since 2008, Bahrain has been implementing a development strategy, Economic 
Vision 2030. Although its oil and natural gas reserves are limited, as part of its Economic Vision 
2030, Bahrain is making serious efforts to diversify the economy, particularly into financial 
services  and manufacturing. As of now, its services sect or is led by financial services  and the 
manufacturing sector benefits from its comparative advantages in energy -intensive industries that 
include mainly aluminium and petrochemicals. Bahrain has been focusing  on developing its Islamic 
banking and its insurance subsectors i n an attempt to create a niche i n a highly competitive 
market in the Gulf region.  
9.3.  Bahrain has low tariffs, no tariff quotas, no nuisance rates, and no other duties and taxes on 
imports. It ha s never taken any anti -dumping, countervailing or safeguard actions. But at the 
same time, it has no competition law which perpetuates the predominance of SOEs.  
9.4.  Bahrain is an original Member of the WTO. It supports the DDA for greater NAMA services 
liberal ization, and also application of the S&D. Bahrain especially made proposals in the field of 
services. It has also been supportive of the successful conclusion of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement and also supports  the implementation of the Aid f or Trade ini tiative.  
9.5.  Bahrain is also host to a large workforce of several hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis that 
is an indication of Pakistan nationals ' integration in their economies. During a visit by Bahrain 's 
King Hamad Bin Isa Al -Khalifa to Pakistan in March 20 14, a meeting of the Bahrain -Pakistan 
business forum was held in Islamabad during which a series of agreements and MoUs between the 
Government and private agencies in both countries were signed. There are over 400 companies in 
many sectors in which Pakista ni investors are already operating in Bahrain, either as partners or in 
their own fully owned businesses, in sectors such as banking, airlines, textiles and garments, and 
commercial services, and some fifteen industries, not to mention a number of commerci al agencies 
of Pakistani companies.  
9.6.  Oman is a middle -income country. It is also heavily dependent on oil resources which are 
dwindling. It is estimated that by 2030 Oman 's oil reserves could be largely depleted. Accordingly, 
it aims to reduce the oil secto r's contribution to GDP to 9% by 2020 and to create more jobs for 
the local workforce. It has devised a Long -Term Development Strategy (1996 -2020) in successive 
five-year-plans. At the same time, a new five -year plan (2016 -2020) and a new long -term 
develop ment s trategy (Vision 2040) are currently under preparation.  
9.7.  Oman has recently graduated from the EU and Japan 's GSP schemes. Oman 's economic 
performance since its last TPR in 2008  has been positive, with robust real GDP growth, low 
inflation, a solid fisc al position, and strong external accounts. It is in the process of revitalizing 
privatization of SOEs, also exploring the possibility of introducing an open -skies policy and allowing 
private investment in a number of services related to air transport. The role of private sector in the 
national economy is also sought to be increased  by stimulating domestic and foreign private 
investment. This is done through development of infrastructure and manufacturing base, by 
development of agriculture and fisheries, an d by development of software and tourism industries 
among others. Oman is also making strides in the field of Islamic finance. Among others, a draft 
law on Islamic Insurance is under preparation.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
WT/TPR/M/295 • Oman  
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  9.8.  Manufacturing exports more than quadrupled between 2006 and 2012. It also has an FTA 
with the US. Oman 's overall average MFN applied tariff is 5.5% and does not apply other duties 
and taxes on imports and does not levy VAT or sales tax. State ownership remains extensive in 
Oman 's economy, but Oman too, has no compe tition law.  
9.9.  A percentage of Omani population originates from the adjoi ning areas of Pakistan. The 
two-way trade between the two countries is increasing and so is investment  from both countries in 
sectors such as construction, telecommunications and banking . 
UNITED  STATES  
9.10.  As noted in the Secretariat  Report, both Bahrain and Oman have enjoy ed positive growth 
since 2008. Both countries are making concerted efforts through their development strategies in 
diversifying their econom ies away from just oil and gas.  For example, as we heard earlier today, 
Bahrain is exploring diversification opportunities in the financial services, manufacturing, and 
agricultural sectors, while Oman is exploring ways to increase the GSP shares of agriculture and 
the role that energy -intensive industries play in m anufacturing diversification.  
9.11.  The United States enjoys a strong and positive relationship with both Bahrain and Oman, 
with cooperation spanning many of the economic and security issues confronting the Middle East 
and the world.  On the commercial front, bilateral trade continues to expand, and as we implement 
our Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with both countries, we look forward to further prospects for 
expanding our relationships.  
9.12.  In 2013, total goods trade with Bahrain was US$1.6 billion, a signifi cant increase from years 
past. The same can be said for Oman, where 2013 goods trade total led US$2.5 billion in 2013; 
again, a signif icant increase from years past.  
9.13.  Our comprehensive bilateral FTAs eliminate tariffs and other barriers o n substantially all 
goods and services trade, thereby promoting economic growth and addit ional commercial 
opportunities.  A number of the reforms that both Bahrain and Oman have undertaken to 
implement the FTA will also benefi t their other trading partners.  
9.14.  The United States is pleased to be working with Bahrain and Oman and their Gulf 
Cooperation Council (GCC) partners to strengthen our economic ties through the U.S. -GCC 
Framework Agreement for Trade, Economic, Invest ment and Technical Cooperation.  
9.15.  While bo th Bahrain and Oman have reason to be pleased with the results of their economic 
reform efforts to date, the United States would like to highlight several areas that we believe need 
greater attention.  
9.16.  Notifications to WTO bodies remain a consistent area of  interest and concern to the United 
States, as they form the basis by which WTO Members communicate with one another about our 
trade policies and practices. Both countries ' difficulty in submitting notifications is a recurring 
theme in our questions, many of which relate to areas – such as subsidies and countervailing 
measures, import licensing, and state trading enterprises – where notifications have not been 
made or where certain practices may exist that are not consistent with the information in 
notifications from both countries. We encourage Bahrain and Oman to update or submit  
notifications, as appropriate.  
9.17.  For Bahrain, the United States submitted questions regarding import prohibitions and 
sanitary and phytosanitary measures, as well as intellectual pr operty rights, particularly updates 
on enforcement efforts and rece nt legislation and regulations.  
9.18.  For Oman, we submitted questions regarding the status of its free trade zones and export 
finance programs, as well as  intellectual property rights. In additi on, given some ambiguity 
regarding Oman 's administrative procedures that pertain to the interpretation of the laws and 
regulations that govern its country of origin marking requirements, we have request ed clarification 
on the issue. We have also req uested clarification of Oman 's in Country Value initiative, WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  particularly Oman 's efforts to address possible disadvantages for foreign firms versus local firms 
when bidding on business opportunities.  
9.19.  The United States would like to note the key role that a fair an d transparent government 
procurement regime can play in attracting foreign investment. The revised Government 
Procurement Agreement (GPA) came into force on 6 April. We strongly encourage Bahrain and 
Oman to commence accession t o the GPA as soon as possibl e. The United States stands ready to 
work with both cou ntries on their GPA accession. This action would be a good way for both 
countries to work toward enhancing their participation in the multilateral trading system, and we 
will be interested to hear each  government 's plans in this regard.  
9.20.  We urge Bahrain and Oman, as well as their GCC partners, to complete the transparency 
review of the GCC Customs Union in the Committee  on Regional Trade Agreements. We also 
encourage Bahrain and Oman – and their GCC part ners – to actively work toward implementation 
of the recen t Trade Facilitation Agreement.  
9.21.  The United States shares a positive and supportive economic partnersh ip with both Bahrain 
and Oman. We thank both G overnments in advance for their efforts to respond to our questions, 
and we plan to review the responses carefully and to request clarifications as necessary during the 
course of this TPR. We look forward to continuing our work with Bahrain and Oman, and our 
trading partners, to strengthen the global econo my and the multilateral trading system embodied 
by the WTO, allowing trade and investment opportunities to expand.  
CHINA  
9.22.  China is pleased to see the economic development of Bahrain and Oman has continued to 
expand since their last review, despite the globa l financial crisis during this period. Efforts to 
diversify away from oil and gas economy has been made, result in a growing non -oil and gas 
sectors. We believe that further liberalization of trade and investment under the WTO framework 
will help them to b uild a more diverse and resilient economy, and eventually contribute to the 
sustainable growth and prosperity of this  region.  
9.23.  As one of the largest trading partner of Bahr ain and Oman, w e commend their G overnments 
for maintaining an open environment for tr ade and investment since their last review, especially 
for keeping tariff lower than the bond rate on most of the products. We  appreciate the efforts of 
the G overnment of Bahrain and Oman to simplify customs procedures, remove non -tariff barriers, 
ease for eign investment restrictions, and adjust domestic regulation to comply with WTO 
provisions. And we are pleased to see they continued to restrain the use of trade dispute 
mechanism and trade remedy measures, none of the two countries has taken anti -dumping,  
countervailing, or safeguard measures since the inception of the WTO.  
9.24.  We appreciate Bahrain and Oman for their firm commitment to the multilateral trading 
system, especially their contribution to the success of the Bali Ministerial Meeting. I would also like 
to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to the hard work undertaken by their 
missions here in Geneva. We enjoy very much our cooperation and are willing to keep working 
together with our colleague from Bahrain and Oman in the form ulating the Post -Bali working 
program.  
9.25.  On the bilateral front, Bahrain and  Oman,  as GCC nations , are our important partners in 
both trade and investment. The trade and investment relations between us has experienced a 
rapid development since last review, b ut there is still huge potential to be explored, China looks 
forward to further expand our cooperation with GCC in the future.  
9.26.  We commend Bahrain and Oman for remaining a generally friendly trade and investment 
environment, but we would still like to call  on the respective G overnment of Bahrain and Oman to 
accelerate the privatization the industries that dormant by state ownership, to further liberalize 
trade in goods and services equally, and to regulate the market with more transparent and 
predictable ru les that could further facilitate foreign investment. Through these initiatives, we 
believe the two countries will be on the right track to further explore their potential in trade and 
investment cooperation with their partners.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
WT/TPR/M/295 • Oman  
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  EUROPEAN  UNION  
9.27.  This is the  second review for Oman  and the third one for Bahrain.  I would like to start by 
noting that overall both countries seem to be going in the right direction.  
9.28.  Bahrain and Oman share several common characteristics. Both countries are classified as 
high income  economies. As shown by the Secretariat repo rts, their GDP ranks between US$ 21.500 
and 24.400 for Oman and Bahrain respectively.  
9.29.  The economies of the countries, since their last respective reviews (in 2007 for Bahrain and 
2008 for Oman), have continued to  grow, and have been only marginally affected by the global 
financial crisis as well as by the oil production dips in 2012. Bahrain and Oman have registered a 
growth rate of around 4% over the past years.  
9.30.  The backbone of the countries ' economies and of th eir industrial output and trade remains 
the energy sector and the hydrocarbons production, building therefore the base for the lion 's part 
of their GDPs.  
9.31.  As already noted in occasion of the previous reviews, the countries are well aware of the 
danger of a  too high dependence from a limited number of revenues ' sources and it is laudable 
that they have put in place specific strategies aiming a t diversifying their economies.  
9.32.  The economic diversification processes, which were outlined at the time of the previo us 
reviews, are now occupying a key role in their economic policies. Bahrain h as put in place since 
2008 the "Economic Vision 2030"  and Oman new Long -Term Develo pment Strategy ("Vision 
2040" ). 
9.33.  As part of Bahrain 's "Economic Vision 20 30", attempts are under  way to diversify the 
economy, particularly into financial services and manufacturing. Oman 's main economic goals are 
defined in the new Long -Term Development Strategy (Vision 2040) and intend to support growth, 
diversify production and exports away from o il.  
9.34.  The EU appreciates these long -term plans and believes that they will help the countries to 
improve further their economies making them even more open -oriented and securing their long 
term development goal to become knowledge -based economies in the for thcoming years. 
Therefore, we can only encourage Bahrain an d Oman to pursue the good work.  
9.35.  A few words on our bilateral relationship with Bahrain and Oman. Formal relations between 
the EU and the two countries take place mostly in the context of the 1988 E U-Gulf-Cooperation 
Council (GCC) Cooperation Agreement. The 1988 Cooperation Agreement contained a commitment 
from both sides to enter into negotiations on a free trade agreement. Negotiations have started 
and been suspended several times since 1990. Negot iations resumed in March 2002, but were  
suspended by the GCC in 2008.  
9.36.  The EU remains committed to concluding the agreement as it is an important trading 
partner for these countries and the region. The EU was the first trading partner for the GCC in 
2012 c overing 13.2% of its total trade. EU-GCC total trade in goods in 2013 amounted to around 
€152 b illion. The GCC accounts for 4.4% of total EU trade and is a significant market for EU 
exports (€95 b illion; 5.5%).  
9.37.  At a multilateral level, the EU encourages t he Bahrain and Oman to pursue their efforts for 
the quick implementation of the TFA. In this context, the EU expects an ambi tious notification of 
schedule " A" commitments and reiterates its call to prioritiz e trade facilitation projects in th e 
countries ' development plans.  
9.38.  Despite these positive aspects, the EU has a number of questions and concerns as regards 
the countries ' trade and investment policies. Turning to the EU questions, let me stress that they 
cover several areas of the countries ' economies – now we would like to touch upon only some of 
our concerns.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
WT/TPR/M/295 • Oman  
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  9.39.  First of all, we are concerned by import bans by Bahrain on imports of certain live animals 
as this policy seem s to differ from the GCC line.  
9.40.  Secondly, while the EU recogniz es that the countries h ave taken important steps to improve 
their business and investment climate, we are of the view that some work still remains to be done. 
For instance, foreign investors have not yet the opportunity to fully own companies in several 
sectors as their investme nt regimes remains restricted or limited in certain activities, some of 
which continue to be domin ated by state -owned companies.  
9.41.  Also, the government procurement regimes still allow price preferences for domestic and 
GCC products and it seems that, in thi s respect, the situation has not chang ed much since the last 
reviews.  
9.42.  The EU has full understanding for the need to integrate more citizens into economic activity 
- programmes known as Bahrainization and Omanization. What is important is that these policie s 
are predictable and that quotas and transitional periods are realistic - this e specially is a concern in 
Oman.  
9.43.  The EU is confident that this TPR will help Bahrain and Oman in reviewing their policies so as 
to ensure that they are most favourable for atta ining their economic objectives while respecting 
their internati onal commitments in this forum.  
SINGAPORE  
9.44.  Singapore enjoys good economic ties with Bahrain and Oman. We face similar challenges, 
being small economies highly reliant on international trade and  with a limited population base.  In 
2013, our bilateral trade with Oman stood at US$2 billion and with Bahrain at  US$555 million. FDI 
flows are also healthy and growing, with the stock of FDI from Bahrain in Singapore standing at 
US$2.45 billion in end -2011, and US$95 million from Oman in 2012. The FTA between Singapore 
and the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GSFTA) was a milestone agreement 
as it was th e first FTA signed by the GCC. With its entry into force on 1 September 2013, we loo k 
forward to the GSFTA helping to facilitate greater trade and closer economic linkages between our 
economies. Even prior to the FTA coming into effect, Singapore companies have invested in a 
range of sectors such as power and desalination plants in Oman, and property development and 
airline maintenance in Bahrain. Singapore also plays host to construction and financial companies 
from Oman, and energy and aluminium companies from Bahrain.   
9.45.  Bahrain withstood the 2008 global financial crisis well with real G DP growth expected to be 
4.8% in 2013. Its efforts to diversify its economy have also made good progress with services 
accounting for 58% of its real GDP in 2012 and m anufacturing contributing 15%. However, the 
petroleum subsector still accounts for 75% of  government income which means that Bahrain 's 
fiscal position is vulnerable to swings in energy markets. Bahrain 's steps to improve its business 
and investment environment have clearly paid off with the Heritage Foundation ranking it as the 
12th most open economy, a le ap up from 39th place in 2007. We encourage Bahrain, currently an 
observer to the Agreement on Government Procurement, to consider becoming a party to the GPA . 
We note from the Secretariat R eport that Bahrain has difficulties meeting a number of WTO 
notification requirements. We encourage Bahrain to take steps to improve its record in this area 
and tap on technical assistance through t he Secretariat where needed.    
9.46.  Oman 's economic performance in the period under review is also strongly positiv e with 
growth av eraging 15.4% between 2008 and 2012 with inflation kept low. We note that oil and gas 
as a share of Oman 's GDP was actually higher in 2012 compared to 2006, at 52.2% versus 44.9%.  
Although services have been growing fast at 16.4% in the pe riod under review, its share of the 
economy stood at 35.4% in 2012, a slight decrease from 37.7% in 2006. While this is due to 
higher oil prices, we encourage Oman to continue efforts towards economic diversification to 
achieve a more sustai nable path of l ong term growth.  We welcome Oman 's move towards 
establishing an electronic single window and improvement of the efficie ncy of its customs 
procedures. We note that Oman is currently reviewing its legislation on foreign investment and 
hope that this will pav e the way for greater  liberaliz ation of investment. We also encourage Oman, WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  currently an observer to the GPA, to consider becoming a party to the GPA and to also consider 
taking part in the negotiations to expand the coverage of the Inf ormation Technology Agreement.  
HONG  KONG,  CHINA  
9.47.  Over the years Hong Kong, China has maintained cordial trade rela tions with Bahrain and 
Oman. Bahrain and Oman were respectively our 8th and 6th largest trading partners in the Middle 
East in 2013. Our bilateral merchandise tra de with Bahrain and Oman grew respectively at an 
average annual growth rate of 4% and 2% from 2009 to 2013. We hope the momentum will 
continue.  
9.48.  We would like to congratulate Bahrain in particular on being ranked as the 13th freest 
economy worldwide by the Heritage Foundation in 2014. We are pleased to see many parallels 
between Hong Kong and Bahrain in our recipe for trade and economic freedom.  The same 
commitments to small G overnment, low and simple taxation, efficient regulator y framework and 
market liber alization not only serve us well, but also give impetus to world economic acti vities that 
benefit many more.  
9.49.  We appreciate that all the tariff lines of Bahrain and Oman, except those on tobacco, are ad 
valorem . Oman has also bound all its tariff lines and  maintained a low level of average applied 
tariff rates. However, we also note that there is a gap between their average applied rates (5.1% 
and 5.5% respectively) and average bound rates (34.5% and 13.4%  respectively). Moreover, 
Bahrain 's applied MFN tari ff rates for some 20 tariff lines are higher than their bound rates. We 
encourage further improvements in their respective tariff regime.  
9.50.  We appreciate that various incentive measures are provided by Bahrain and Oman to 
promote foreign investment. For ins tance, Bahrain launched a pilot phase of the Business Licenses 
Information Service in December 2013 and its Commercial Companies Law is being amended to, 
among others, eliminate the minimum capital requirements for set ting up a business in Bahrain. 
Oman es tablished a one -stop shop to assist  investors to set up companies and its legislation on 
foreign investment is currently under revision. We encourage Bahrain and Oman to consider 
further liberalizing their investment regimes for foreign investors.  
9.51.  We appre ciate the efforts taken by Bahrain and Oman to improve their trade facilitation 
environment. In particular, we commend the introduction of the customs clearance single window 
projects in 2011 by Bahrain, and similar efforts made recently by Oman. Such meas ures can help 
improve efficiency and reduce transaction cost.  
9.52.  We are pleased that Bahrain and Oman have kept their technical regulations to the minimal. 
We would like to see their continued efforts to exercise restraint in introducing new regulations 
and t o avoid creating unnecessary obstacles to the trade. Specifically, we encourage Bahrain to 
continue harmonizing its technical regulations at the GCC level so that traders can have a unified 
standard to follow.  
9.53.  We note that privatization is an area of prior ity for Bahrain and Oman, but its pace has 
significantly slowed down during the review period. We strongly urge Bahrain and Oman to resume 
their efforts to develop the private sector and encourage private investment in a wider range of 
industries.  
COLOMBIA  
9.54.  Today, on exceptional basis, we are meeting with two Member states that not only share the 
Arabian peninsula, but are also countries with major similarities in their economies and in their 
economic strategies for the future.  
9.55.  These Member S tates have fulfi lled their commitments and participated actively in the 
developments of this institution; and they have incorporated the recommendations of previous 
Trade Policy Reviews into their policies, with very successful results.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
WT/TPR/M/295 • Oman  
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  9.56.  The economy of the Kingdom of Bahra in is based essentially on oil, which it has been 
producing since 1932. It also has major natural gas reserves and carries out industrial activities 
related to oil refining. Despite this country 's effort to diversify its economy, oil, gas and financial 
services remain the three basic pillars of economic activity.  
9.57.  Bahrain is also a country with recent tourist activity, thanks to the country 's openness, 
wide range of tourist activities, easy connections with neighbouring countries, and the 
Formula  One Grand P rix, which has turned the country into a regional tourist attraction.  
9.58.  Between 2006 and 2012, the GDP of the economy of the Kingdom of Bahrain grew by  64%, 
while maintaining a positive trade and services balance, together with low rates of inflation 
and unemployment.  
9.59.  Small and medium -sized enterprises (SMEs) generate 30% of GDP, and account for just 
over half of all services produced in the country. Despite efforts made by the government, 
major  challenges persist in reducing and eliminating the paperwork nee ded to start a business 
or engage in foreign trade, as well as in identifying new economic sectors to attract foreign 
direct  investment.  
9.60.  According to the World Economic Forum, Bahrain faces a number of problems such as a lack 
of innovation and the scant in volvement of local labour. In relation to the latter, major steps are 
being taken by the government to develop the skills of the domestic labour force, to enable 
it to compete with the foreigners that dominate its labour market  
9.61.  We welcome the fact that the  Government of Bahrain has been amending a number of laws 
to align them with WTO obligations, in relation to civil aviation, trade defence measures, 
government procurement, and maritime transport. Nonetheless, we call upon the government 
to update its inte llectual property notifications.  
9.62.  We thank the Government of Bahrain for its answers to the questions raised by our country.  
9.63.  Oman has an ever -expanding open economy which continues to rely heavily on the oil 
sector as its basic economic activity. Its econom y grew by 112% between 2006 and 2012; it has 
low inflation, growing exports of services and a positive trade balance. This growth is based 
on improvements in international oil and gas sales which generate roughly 70% 
of its export  earnings.  
9.64.  Agriculture, wh ich represents just 1% of GDP, is a large employer, so we applaud the  efforts 
made by Oman to strengthen this economic activity.  
9.65.  As in the previous case, the government has been leading initiatives to diversify 
its productive structure, with a view to redu cing the effect of movements in international oil prices. 
This country is also leading initiatives to train the local labour supply to enable it to enter the 
labour market in the private sector.  
9.66.  The Secretariat Report shows that there are still several res trictions on foreign direct 
investment, such as the exclusion of foreigners from certain activities and ownership of the land 
on which the economic activity operates . 
MEXICO 
Bahra in 
9.67.  We welcome the fact that Bahrain has continued to grow, despite the 2008 -2009 financial 
crisis, which occurred between the latest reviews and this one. The oil sector has played a key role 
in this recovery, along with Bahrain 's Economic Vision 2030 which aims at  exploiting oil revenues 
to diversify and strengthen its economy.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
WT/TPR/M/295 • Oman  
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  9.68.  The "Doing Business" index of the World Bank and International Finance Corporation 
classified Bahrain as a high -income country, and ranks it in an enviable fourth place in terms 
of dealing with construction permits and seventh in terms of paying taxes.  
9.69.  Accord ing to the Heritage Foundation 's Index of Economic Freedom, Bahrain is ranked 12th 
among "mostly free" economies, compared to 39th in 2007; and its unemployment rate 
is below  4%. 
9.70.  Bahrain is a member of the Gulf Co -operation Council and generally has very l ow external 
tariffs on the majority of its tariff lines. Nonetheless, its bound tariffs cover 7.6% of tariff lines 
and average 34.5%.  
9.71.  The Bali Ministerial Conference approved the Trade Facilitation Agreement. Although this has 
not yet entered into force, B ahrain has unilaterally applied various measures in this area, 
to facilitate trade further than provided for in the Agreement adopted last December.  
9.72.  In 2011, Bahrain established the online single -window customs facility to speed up customs 
clearance and th e release of merchandise. Bahrain does not require the participation of customs 
agents, and charges no export taxes or duties.  
9.73.  In the intellectual property area, Bahrain has improved its legal framework by  lengthening 
the duration of protection to 70 years  after the author 's death. This is 20 years more than required 
by the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (the TRIPS Agreement). 
It has also introduced retroactive protection for related rights; and it  has taken praiseworthy steps 
to reduce piracy. Nonetheless, it needs to maintain efforts to  combat infringements of intellectual 
property rights in relation to computer programs.  
9.74.  Although the oil sector represents 24.6% of the country 's GDP and generated 75% of public 
sector rev enues in 2012, the services market has not slipped behind, since it  contributed almost 
60% of GDP in that year. The financial sector must remain a cornerstone of Bahrain 's economic 
diversification, based on the guidelines of the Central Bank of Bahrain. No netheless, it would 
be advisable for this diversification to expand to other sectors of its economy.  
9.75.  Hopefully the reforms made in 2011 to the legal framework governing Bahrain 's capital 
market, contained in its Corporate Governance Code, bear fruit and at tract more investors into 
its capital market.  
9.76.  In relation to the telecommunications sector, our delegation congratulates Bahrain 's telecom 
regulatory authority on receiving the Award to the Most Progressive Regulatory Agency of the 
Year, granted by the Tel ecommunications Council of South Asia, the Middle East and  North Africa 
(SAMENA) in 2009 and 2011.  
9.77.  Bahrain 's tourism sector has also developed, because in 2012 Manama was chosen as the 
Arab culture capital under a UNESCO program, and was elected the Arab t ourism capital 2013, 
for which we offer our congratulations . 
Oma n 
9.78.  We are pleased that Oman has continued growing despite the 2008 -2009 financial crisis. 
The oil sector has played a key role in this recovery, in conjunction with the country 's long -term 
development strategy (1996 -2020), which aims to use oil revenues to diversify and  strengthen 
the economy.  
9.79.  Thanks to the efforts made by its central bank, Oman succeeded in reducing inflation from 
12% in 2008 to 2.9% in 2012.  
9.80.  Oman 's oil revenues represent 85% o f its public -sector income, 70% of its goods exports 
and over 30% of GDP. According to the Secretariat Report, in 2013 its oil and  condensed gas 
reserves were estimated at 4,974  million barrels, compared to  4,865  million in  2006. WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  The Secretariat Report als o notes, however, that the country 's oil reserves could run out by 2030, 
so this eventuality needs to be considered.  
9.81.  The Secretariat Report states that population in Oman is growing at roughly 2.8% per year, 
and 43% of its population under 15 years of age.  In 2009, The Economist magazine forecast that 
this situation in Gulf Cooperation Council countries will attract both foreign investment and provide 
a consumer market for these countries, provided enough jobs are  created for young people.  
9.82.  The Doing Busines s index published by the World Bank and International Finance 
Corporation classifies Oman as a high -income country, ranking it ninth in terms of paying taxes 
and 21st in terms of registering property in 2014 thus far. Nonetheless, the country is ranked 107th 
in terms of the enforcing contracts and 98th on protecting investors.  
9.83.  Oman has a foreign capital investment law that prohibits expropriation or confiscation 
of foreign investments, except for reasons of public interest and then with fair compensation. 
It is a member of the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) 
and of the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA). These mechanisms could clearly 
help Oman improve protection for its investors.  
9.84.  Our delegation would like  to congratulate Oman for having created a public consumer 
protection authority in 2011 . 
CANADA  
9.85.  We are pleased to have the opportunity to participate in this valuable exchange of views on 
the trade policy of Bahrain and Oman. We have a close relationship w ith both these countries, and 
are currently seeking to establish a Strategic Dialogue between Canada and the Gulf Cooperation 
Council.  
9.86.  With respect to Bahrain specifically, Canada signed with them a Tax Information Exchange 
Agreement in July 2013, and loo ks forward to the signature of the Foreign Investment Promotion 
and Protection Agreement, negotiation s on which concluded in 2010.  
9.87.  Bahrain has made important steps in growing the non -oil sectors of its economy, especially 
through public spending increases.  But more needs to be done to improve governance standards 
and combat corruption. This is an area of concern that has been raised by Canadian companies 
operating in Bahrain. Greater transparency could attract more firms, support commercial 
engagement, and promote Bahr ain's role as a financial centre  and a leader in Islamic banking. We 
are also concerned that lower oil prices will widen Bahrain 's budget deficit, and therefore we 
encourage continued diversification reforms.  
9.88.  With respect to, like Bahrain and Qatar discussed this morning, Oman too is making 
important strides towards diversification, with the Vision 2020 blueprint forecasting non -oil sectors ' 
contribution to GDP will rise from the current 50 % to 81 % by 2020. We note, however, that the 
applicatio n of labour policies in Oman restricts the employment of skilled expatriate workers, and 
may impede the ability of firms to succeed and create wealth. Greater transparency and more 
consistent application of policies could support increased commercial enga gement to the benefit of 
Oman. We would like to see Oman implement science -based World Organizations for Animal 
Health (OIE) guidelines for trade in beef products.  
REPUBLIC  OF KOREA  
9.89.  As the Secretariat  Report notes, the Bahrain economy continued to grow desp ite the 
sporadic domestic tension and global crisis during the review period . We would like to compliment 
the fact that Bahrain has been successfully implementing a development strategy, the Economic 
Vision 2030, to reduce its high dependence on oil and ga s, helping in its diversification efforts. As 
a result, the financial services and manufacturing sector accounted for 58% and 15.2% 
respectively of its real GDP in 2012.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  9.90.  Bahrain is an active participant in the multilateral trading system. Importantly, Bahr ain is a 
signatory to the ITA and an observer to the GPA, though it has yet to meet several notification 
requirements under the WTO Agreements. In addition, Bahrain has been amending its legislation 
to make it consistent with WTO obligations. We believe su ch efforts contribute to the fact that 
Bahrain is now known for its trade and investment friendly environment. We hope that these 
efforts lead to attracting more FDI in the coming years and accelerate Bahrain 's economic 
diversification efforts, particularl y in the areas of financial services, tourism and manufacturing 
sectors.  
9.91.  For Oman, we welcome that the Government has been pushing for further diversification of 
its economy to enhance national competitiveness even when Oman achieved a robust real GDP 
growth of 12% in 2012, as the Secretariat report notes. Oman 's trade policy has been encouraging 
to foreign investors, and its macroeconomic indicators such as inflation and balance of payments 
are demonstrating that Oman is in good financial condition. On the  bilateral front, Oman is one of 
our most important energy suppliers and investment destinations, particularly in the mining and 
construction sectors. One thing we would like to note in this regard is that we are slightly 
concerned about "Omanization initi ative" which prescribes more strict requirements for hiring local 
workforce. We hope that this requirement will not serve as an obstacle to our further economic 
cooperation and investment.  
MALAYSIA  
Bahrain  
9.92.  As a Member of the Organis ation of the Islamic Con ference (OIC), Bahrain is an important 
and valued trading partner for Malaysia. In 2013, Bahrain was Malaysia 's 9th largest trading 
partner, 12th largest export destination and 5th largest import destination within the West Asia 
region. Malaysia 's main exp orts to Bahrain consist of wood products, palm oil, processed food, 
manufacturers of metal and electrical and electronic products.  
9.93.  In 2013, Malaysia  registered a total trade of US$ 360.7 million w ith Bahrain compared to 
only US$ 291.7 million in 2012. Expor ts from Bahrain showed an increase of 37% for 2013 which 
was largely due to the imports of refined petroleum products by Malaysia.  
9.94.  Within ASEAN, Malaysia is Bahrain 's 2nd largest trading partner, 3rd largest export market 
and 2nd largest source of imports.  
9.95.  Besides advancing hand in hand the multilateral trading system, Malaysia looks forward to 
deepen and expand our bilateral trade relationship particularly in financial services. The year 2002 
marks a stepping stone for the bilateral trade between our two c ountries when Maybank Malaysia 
established the only Overseas Branch Unit from South East Asia in Bahrain, the financial capital 
and a global hub for Islamic Financing in the Middle East.  
9.96.  Malaysia and Bahrain will continue collaborations particularly in the  construction and 
infrastructure sector. Last but not least, we encourage Bahrain to continue its trade expansion and 
its investment to achieve sustainable growth and further integrate into the global trading system.  
Oman  
9.97.  Malaysia views Oman as an importa nt trading partner and welcomes Oman commitments to 
the multilateral trading system.  
9.98.  Bilaterally, Malaysia looks forward for a stronger trade ties with Oman. Malaysia 's main 
exports to Oman consist of machinery, appliances and part, palm oil, electrical a nd electronics, 
saw logs and sawn timber; and wood products. While imports by Malaysia consist of crude 
petroleum, refined petroleum products, chemical and chemical products, manufacturers of metal 
and seafood, fresh chilled or frozen.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  9.99.  It was stated in the  Government r eport that Oman is planning to invest heavily to develop 
logistics and transport infrastructure under the 8th five -year Development Plan (2011 -15). 
Malaysia looks forward to collaboration opportunities in infrastructure projects such as roads,  port 
facilities, airports and solid waste management services.  
JAPAN  
9.100.   Let me star t with Bahrain and Oman 's macro economic policies. As mentioned in the report 
by the Secretariat, Bahrain and Oman have recorded sound economic growth and development 
since the  last review. Japan hopes that Bahrain and Oman will maintain their strong economic 
growth under the multilateral trading system. Furthermore, Bahrain and Oman have established 
growth strategies, the Economic Vision 2030 of Bahrain and Long -term Developmen t Strategy of 
Oman. Japan also hopes that Bahrain and Oman will achieve further economic growth by 
accomplishing reform of their industrial structure, increased capacity building for talented people, 
and so on, along the economic strategies.  
9.101.   Now let me mov e to trade and trade -related policies. We have two points here: the WTO 
and regional trade agreem ents and investment agreements.  
9.102.   First, the WTO. Japan commends Bahrain and Oman 's contribution to maintaining and 
strengthening the multilateral trading system  represented by the WTO. In addition, they have 
participated in the ITA. In the light of further trade liberalization, Japan hopes that Bahrain and 
Oman will join in the expanded ITA as well. Furthermore, Bahrain and Oman are also observers of 
the GPA and the negotiation of Oman 's accession to the GPA has already been initiated. Japan 
hopes for early realization of Oman 's accession as well as early initiation of the nego tiation of 
Bahrain 's accession.  
9.103.   Second, regional trade agreements and investment agreeme nts. Bahrain and Oman are 
members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and GCC has negotiated RTAs with third parties 
including Japan, as I mentioned this morning. In addition, Japan and Oman announced a 
substantial agreement on the investment agreement when Japan 's prime minister visited Oman in 
January this year. Cooperating for early signing of the investment agreement with Oman, Japan 
hopes that the regional trade agreements and investment agreements concluded by the GCC, 
Bahrain and Oman will complem ent th e multilateral trading system.  
9.104.   Now, let me turn to specific points. We will refer to one point fo r Bahrain and another for 
Oman.  
9.105.   First, Bahrain has basically provided foreign companies with a sound business environment 
in the Middle East region. It is important for Bahrain 's invitation of investment from foreign 
companies to maintain this sound business environment, for example, through tax policy without 
imposing corporate and income tax, reasonable energy supply, less expensive land for industry 
and so on, and to endeavo ur to maintain and improve an environment in which foreign companies 
are easy to access. Japan hopes that Bahrain will make efforts to improve its business 
environment in t he distribution sector as well.  
9.106.   Second, with regard to anti -counte rfeit measures taken by Oman 's Government, it has 
been reported that counterfeit of spare parts for automobiles, for example, oil filters, is occurring 
in Oman 's domestic market. Japan is concerned that this is causing serious damage, including 
tradem ark infringement, to foreign automobile makers including Japanese companies. The 
counterfeit also is leading to traffic accidents in Oman, and it should be addressed from the 
viewpoint of public safety as well. While distributing agents dealing with Japane se automobiles 
announce the danger of counterfeiting through promotion of consumer literacy, Japan requests 
Oman to address this problem and strengthen anti -counterfeiting measures through the relevant 
governmental organizations.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  AUSTRALIA  
Bahrain  
9.107.   Austral ia and Bahrain have a long standing bilateral relationship, underpinned by strong 
commercial ties. Australia 's total merchandise exports to Bahrain were well over $665 million in 
2013. Australia 's top exports to Bahrain include live animals, meat and passe nger motor vehicles. 
Australia 's main imports from Bahrain include aluminium, wire products and fertilisers.  
9.108.   Bahrain is an important market for Australian livestock exports. We appreciate Bahrain 's 
agreement to animal health protocols in March this year, which has paved the way for livestock 
shipments to restart. Australia 's Minister for Agriculture chose Bahrain as one of the first countries 
he would visit since his appointment – demonstrating the importance of our trade and agriculture 
relations. We look  forward to continuing to work with Bahrain to ensure the long term viability of 
the livestock trade, a longside a growing meat trade.  
Oman  
9.109.   Australia and Oman have a friendly and cooperative relationship, underpinned by a steady 
trading relationship. Two -way merchandise trade between Australia and Oman totalled around 
$468 million in 2013. Passenger motor vehicles and agricultural commodities form the bulk of 
Australia and Oman 's trading relationship. Australia and Oman are keen to grow bilateral trade 
flows and people -to-people links. This is reflected in Oman 's opening of a Consulate -General in 
Melbourne and Australia 's appointment of an Honorary Consul in Muscat.  
9.110.   Australia is supportive of Oman 's efforts to pursue economic reform thro ugh diversification 
and privatiz ation. To support this agenda, Oman has encouraged Australian investment and trade. 
Several Australian companies already operate in Oman, including Leighton, Austal, and Worley 
Parsons, which employs around 700 people. Oman has also sought Austr alia's assistance to build 
capacity in a range of sectors and Australia has been ready and able to help. For example, 
Australian expertise in agribusiness and natural resources has led to useful cooperation and 
development in these sectors.  
9.111.   Australia comme nds Oman in its drive to up -skill its young population. As a world -leading 
education provider, Australia would welcome more Omani students to study in Australia. The 
people -to-people links forged through education cannot be underestimated. Increased people -to-
people links so often lead to increased business and commercial links.   
9.112.   Finally, Australia would like to highlight with Bahrain and Oman  its interest in resuming 
negotiations on a free trade agreement between Australia and  the Gulf Cooperation Council . Such 
an agreement would help our countries realise much more of the potential that exists in our trade  
and investment relationships. We seek the support of the delegations in promoting a resumption of 
negoti ations with their GCC partners.  
TURKEY  
9.113.   I would like to emphasize that  Turkey enjoys excellent political and economic relations with 
both Bahrain and Oman although our current trade and economic relations do not fully  reflect our 
real potential. We  sincerely want to enhance our total bilateral trade vol umes which is currently 
around only US$400 million with Bahrain and US$500 million with Oman.  
9.114.   I also wish to underline that  Turkey strongly appreciates both countries ' astute 
macroeconomic policy management and positive economic performance especially they  have 
achieved since the last TPR again, despite all the negative effects of global financial crisis and 
unstable world economy.  
9.115.   Laying at the very heart of global commercial routes, and being very well aware of it, both 
Bahrain and Oman maintain  transpar ent and liberal trade and investment regimes. In both 
countries trade policy orientations, GCC seems to be an important determinant. In this context, WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  stemming from the GCC practices, both Bahrain and Oman have a very low level of custo ms tariffs 
which is a round 5 %.  
9.116.   Although hydrocarbon resources still dominates their trade, public finance and overall 
economic activity, both countries have ambit ious diversification strategies with strong human and 
economic competive ness dimensions. With its 2030 "Economic V ision Strategy" , Bahrain intends to 
enhance its regional and global economic networks by developing strategic objectives to reach 
sustainable, competitive and knowledge based economy. We  believe that, by consistently 
implementing these targets and objectiv es, Bahrain will further improve its current highly 
competitive economy.  
9.117.   Oman also excels its already quite open and transparent trade and investment regime by 
adopting a long term "2020 Strategy"  with strong social, economic and sectoral dimensions. With 
this instrument in ha nd, Oman seems to optimize both  the use of its human resources and 
development of a competitive private sector. Like all other dynamic Gulf economies, Oman puts 
strong emphasis on its diversification strategy which aims at creating a n ot only diversified but 
also sustainable and globally integrated economy.  
9.118.   Oman also seems to bolster this process by enhancing the shar e of the private sector 
vis-à-vis public economy through an efficient privatization process. This strategy also gives spe cial 
emphasis to FDI attraction and domestic investment since it has ambit ious objectives to create 
and investment friendly business environment.  
9.119.   But what is striking about both Bahrain and Oman is that, both countries put their national 
human resource dev elopment and education at the top of their economic management agenda. We 
believe, this prioritization is a key choice to improve any countries competitiveness and welfare.  
9.120.   Although two countries maintain a quite open and liberal trade and investment regim e, 
there are still areas where which further prog ress is possible. We believe b oth countries can make 
additional liberalization and simplification in their goods and service regimes and regulations. For 
example, Bahrain can harmonize its escalating customs  tariff structure, and it can also increase its 
level of tariff bindings. We are also of the view that, simplifying the invoice and rule s of origin 
certification  process of Bahrain and Oman will further contribute to our bilateral trade relations.  
9.121.   We since rely believe that both Bahrain and Oman will continue on th eir successful 
economic growth  route and reform track.  
INDIA  
9.122.   India enjoys exce llent bilateral relations with Bahrain and  Oman which can be ascribed to 
cordial political, economic and cultural excha nges. The presence of large Indian co mmunity in both 
these countries  is an important aspect of the close bilateral relationship. Although India enjoyed 
excellent economic and trade relations with both these countries for over several centuries, these 
relations have received fresh impetus since the oil boom of the early seventies. Relative prosperity 
and higher standard of living have boosted global imports of goods and services, including from 
India. The respective government 's policy of industrial diversif ication also played an important role 
in enhancing economic cooperation with India. With Bahrain we have seen a steady bilateral trade 
hovering around US$1.3 billion over the last few years. With Oman the bilateral trade has s hown a 
steady progress from US $1.98 billion in 2008 -09 to US$4.5 billion in 2012 -13. In Asia, India is an 
important destination for exports from Bahrain and Oman. India is ranked fourth largest source of 
imports from Oman and Omani investments in India have become second biggest amongs t the 
GCC countries. The institutional setup in the form of Joint Business Council or India Bahrain Joint 
Committee on Economic  and Technical cooperation plays  an important role in strengthening and 
broadening the content of the trade between the two count ries. While with Oman, the regular Joint 
Commission Meetings (JCM) and Joint Business Council (JBC) are successfully monitoring the 
progress of bilateral economic and trade relations.  
9.123.   We are glad that the Kingdom of Bahrain 's economy has continued to grow  since the last 
TPR in 2007, despite the global financial crisis. While the hydrocarbon sector is an important 
component of the economy of Bahrain we appreciate the country 's commitment to diversify into WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  other sectors to reduce the dependence on oil sector s so that the economy is not vulnerable to the 
oil shocks. No wonder there is a focus at the highest level to develop Bahrain into a business 
friendly country and turn it into a competitive and open economy by integrating into the 
multilateral trading syst em. We therefore appreciate the rapid strides made by Ba hrain in 
diversifying into f inancial services and Manufacturing despite the severe constraints in terms of its 
limited population, geographical size etc. Although crude oil and petroleum provides 80% of 
government 's income, the services sector constitutes 58% of the count ry's GDP, turning Bahrain 
into service based economy. In this respect we feel that the long term development strategy 
elucidated by the Econo mic Vision 2030 has played an important in guiding the day to day policy 
making of the government. We are certain that with further liberalisation in all the sectors of its 
economy, Bahrain would not only be abl e to increase its foot print in  the international trading 
system but would be able to im prove its human development index.  
9.124.   As regard Oman, we note with appreciation the report provided by the Secretariat for this 
TPR. The report underlined the strong economic performance of Oman, after the 2008 T PR, and we 
commend Oman for its  robust GDP grow th, low inflation, solid fiscal position and strong external 
accounts. The rapid increase in expat population during this period is an indicatio n of the rapid 
economic growth.  We are glad that the long term development plan acc ompanied by the five year 
plans through liberaliz ation, diversification and p rivatization  have helped in the robust economic 
growth on diversification of its economy, skill development and removal of income inequalities. We 
note the steps taken by Oman in facilitating the customs proc edures through streamlining customs 
procedures and single electronic window proj ect. While Oman follows the GCC  external tariffs, and 
applies 5% tariff on 87.5% of tariff lines, there are a few tariff lines where the duties have 
remained at a very high lev el. As far as the investment regime is concerned, India looks forward 
for further details of the proposed legislation. We also look forward to knowing details about the 
insurance sector.  
THAILAND  
9.125.   Oman is Thailand 's fourth largest trading partner in the Mid dle East, and Bahrain is 
Thailand 's seventh largest partner from the same area.  
9.126.   During 2011 -2013, Thailand -Oman bilateral trade averaged at US$3.05 billion with a sli ght 
decrease in 2013 from 2012.  
9.127.   Although Thailand 's bilateral trade with Bahrain was on a lesser scale during the past three 
years, our bilateral trade has seen an increase at the end of 2013. In fact, Thailand -Bahrain 
bilateral trade increase d about 46 % from 2012.   
9.128.   We consider our trade relationships with Bahrain and Oman are set to continue to grow 
through both bilateral ties and ASEAN -Gulf Cooperati on Council (GCC) collaboration.  
9.129.   We would like to commend Oman on its notable economic develop ment during the review 
period. Among others, the strong economic growth, low inflation rates, fiscal st ability and strong 
external accounts.  
9.130.   Thailand is also impressed with Bahrain 's remarkable economic performance, such as its 
continuous economic growth despite the global financial crisis and other tensions, its current 
account and trade surpluses during t he review period, and its relatively low inflation rates.  
9.131.   Both Bahrain and Oman have proved to be very resilient in the world economy and that 
will in turn benefit the multilateral trading system.  
9.132.   Thailand appreciates the growing relationship between the GCC and ASEAN, which has 
supported Thailand 's trade relationsh ip with both Bahrain and Oman. As mentioned this morning, 
we consider that the third ASEAN -GCC Ministerial Meeting in November 2013 in Manama, Bahrain 
was an important occasion for the growing r elationship of the two regions as the importance of 
enhancing economic an d trade cooperation progresses.  We welcome expressions made for support 
for an open, fair, and transparent multilateral trading system, and efforts to ensure a successful WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  outcome of t he WTO MC9 in Bali. Furthermore, future cooperation in trade and investment, 
economic development, and education and culture, were also discussed.  
9.133.   Thailand submitted questions to the delegations of Bahrain and Oman regarding Bahrain 's 
commitments in servic es and Oman 's processes in importing products. We appreciate the response 
we have received so far, and we look forward to reviewing furt her responses to our questions.  
9.134.   In closing, Thailand would like to express its appreciation to the delegations of Bahrai n and 
Oman for today 's presentation, which provided us a better understanding of their trade policies 
and measures. Thailand is thankful for our bilateral trade relationships with Bahrain and Oman and 
the growing cooperation between ASEAN and the GCC . 
JORDA N ON BEHALF  OF THE ARABIC  GROUP  
9.135.   Through its unique geographic location, Bahrain was, by nature, a firm believer in foreign 
trade. Over the last few years, Bahrain 's economy has expanded, with the GDP and productivity 
increasing significantly. Bahrain 's reliable financial system, coupled with a strong drive towards a 
diversified economy, an investment -friendly environment, and a sound trade regime have resulted 
in impressive growth rates.  
9.136.   The Arab group welcomes the GDP Growth in Bahrain since its last revi ew in 2007 and 
congratulates Bahrain for its wise economic leadership which has made the Kingdom one of the 
most diversified economies in the region.  
9.137.    Since the year 2000, Bahrain has pursued a development strategy of reducing its 
dependence on oil and gas . The Economic Vision 2030 is a roadmap for making Bahrain a 
sustainable, competitive, fair and knowledge -based economy. Bahrain has partly achieved that by 
promoting downstream industries and financial services and tourism. Improving health and 
education services  and modernizing the infrastructure have also bee n most helpful in this regard. 
It is well noted that Bahrain 's economy has grown strongly with the implementation of this 
strategy. According to the report of the S ecretariat, the strategy has helped  diversification efforts 
as follows: the services sector, led by financial services, contributed 58% of Bahrain 's real GDP in 
2012, and the manufacturing sector based on Bahrain 's comparative advantages in energy -
intensive industries, contributed 15.2% of the Kingdom 's real GDP.  
9.138.   Turning to Sultanate of Oman, the Arab Group is pleased to note that Oman has pursued 
an open and outward looking economic policy which results in excellent economic growth and 
development. The WTO Secretariat report has termed Oman 's economic performance as " positive 
with robust real GDP growth, low inflation, a solid fiscal positio n and strong external accounts".  
This all adds to the welfare and prosperity of the Omani people. Oman can be rightly proud of 
following, as it had promi sed, welfare oriented and people -centric economic and trade policies.  
9.139.   Since its accession to the WTO in November 2000, the Sultanate of Oman has pursued an 
open, liberal, and transparent trade policy based on the rules and principles of the WTO. Oman has 
bound tariffs on all agriculture and non -agriculture products at low rates, while its actual applied 
average tariffs are no more than 5%. Oman by and large does not use other trade measures, 
particularly no export subsidies and no prohibited TRIMS. Oman 's commitments on Services are 
quite extensive. It does not lag behind in observing and implementing the pro visions of the TRIPS 
Agreement.  
9.140.    The Arab Group congratulates the brotherly Bahrain and Oman on their impressive 
performance and on their faithful adher ence to the rules, disciplines and commitments as Members 
of the WTO. The Arab Group strongly recommends that the Review Body concludes that Bahrain 's 
and Oman 's trade policies have a positive impact on the functioning of the Multilateral Trading 
System.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  KUWAIT  ON BEHALF  OF THE GCC 
9.141.   Oman and Bahrain are both active in shaping the joint policies and important initiatives of 
the GCC, in particular those relating to trade. The GCC has been adamant to pursue the noble 
principles and rules of the Multilateral Tr ading System in letter and spirit.  
9.142.   The Economic Vision 2030 is a roadmap for making Bahrain a sustainable, competitive, fair 
and knowledge -based economy. In order to achieve this, Bahrain mobilized its reliable financial 
system, coupled with a strong drive  towards a diversified economy, an investment -friendly 
environment, and a sound trade regime.  
9.143.   All these measures resulted in impressive growth rates as the economy had expanded, 
with GDP and productivity increasing significantly.  
9.144.   The GCC commends Oman for its impressive economic performance since its last review in 
2008. Its economy has witnessed high growth of 15.4% between 2008 and 2014, with very low 
inflation. Oman is also engaged in successfully diversifying its economy away from oil. It is also on 
the road to increasing the role of private sector in the national economy.  
9.145.   Oman has bound tariffs at low rates on all agricultural and non -agricultural products 
without any exception. It follows the Common External Tariff of the GCC for almost all tariff line s, 
thus having a very low average applied tariff.  
9.146.   Oman 's trade policy is characterized by the virtual absence of non -tariff measures and 
other impediments to the flow of trade. Oman has also undertaken commercially meaningful 
market access and national tre atment commitments in the field of services. Oman had 
implemented the TRIPS Agreement from the very beginning of its accession to the WTO in 2000.  
9.147.   The GCC congratulates Oman and Bahrain for their liberal and open trade policy in 
conformity with the rules a nd principles of the WTO and for their support to the Doha Development 
Agenda.  
EGYPT  
9.148.   Egypt supports the statement of Jordan on behalf of the Arab group.  
9.149.   We acknowledge the commitment of both the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Sultanate of 
Oman to the multilat eral trading system, which is clearly illustrated through the openness of both 
countries ' trade policies. The two countries demonstrate sustained economic performance which is 
based to a large extent on a successful strategy of economic diversification.  
9.150.   Bahrain is placed in the category “highly developed economies” and ranked as 48th in the 
Human Development Index according to the UNDP report for 2013.The openness of Bahrain trade 
and economic policies helped establish the country as a hub for investment a nd trade in the Arab 
Gulf and beyond. The modern logistics infrastructure, including its new Khalifa bin Salman Port 
opened in 2009, enhances the trade flows of the country with the rest of the world.  
9.151.   We commend Bahrain recent efforts to diversify its econ omy which is reflected in the 
composition of its GDP. Whereas the oil and gas sector accounted for 44% of the Bahrain real GDP 
in 2000, the proportion of this sector to GDP diminished to 19% in 2012. The largest sectors of the 
non-oil economy are financial  services (17%), manufacturing (15%), and government services 
(approximately 13%).  
9.152.   We recognize the quality and flexibility of Bahrain economic regulations. This has been 
reflected in ranking the country as the 12th worldwide in economic freedom according  to 2012 
Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom.  
9.153.   We recognize the robust economic performance by Oman during the recent years where 
the country 's economy has been characterized as high growth and low inflation economy. This WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  performance has been ref lected in the average growth rate of GDP from 2008 to 2012 to be 
15.4%. The rate of inflation in 2012 was low approaching 2.9 %. 
9.154.   The open economic policy of Oman and its long -term objective to diversify its economy has 
been clearly emphasized in Oman Vision  2020. We are confident that the open liberal policies of 
Oman will help achieve the Country objective to increase the share of non -oil sector to 15 % of 
GDP.  
9.155.   Oman ongoing efforts to develop a dynamic, efficient and competitive private sector along 
with th e country adoption of capital -intensive and technology -based production methods have a 
great potential to upgrade the value -added of the economy. We commend the steadfast 
endeavo urs of Oman to create enabling macroeconomic environment for the development o f 
productive sectors. In this context, we welcome the progress achieved by Oman in privatization, 
particularly in the electricity sector, power and related water sector, the telecommunications 
sector, and the transport sector. Additionally, Oman open and l iberal investment policy helps 
attracting investments.  
QATAR  
9.156.   Since we, the State of Qatar, are currently going through our own Trade Policy Review, we 
express our commitment in participating in such an exercise as it provides the necessary 
transparency mec hanism to trade policy, and adds an element of openness that our organization 
requires.  
9.157.   Since its accession in 2000, the Sultanate of Oman has been an active and cooperative 
Member of the WTO. The Sultanate has gone through vast economic reforms since its previous 
Trade Policy Review. The results, as depicted by both the Secretariat and Government reports, 
point to significant milestones in its economic development as well as resilient growth.  
9.158.   Concurrently, with the Economic Vision of 2030 serving as a guid e, the Kingdom of Bahrain 
has continued to build a vibrant private sector and reduce dependency on oil with the development 
of its financial sector which continues to serve as a regional financial hub and currently accounts 
for over 25% of the Kingdom 's GDP. 
9.159.   We are pleased to recognize that both countries have experienced major economic 
development since their last TPR 's, with strong indications that these two economies are 
progressively moving towards a diversified and competitive future.  
9.160.   We further would like to note the open and transparent trade policies pursued by these two 
nations, and hope that other WTO Members can draw lessons learned from their positive 
experience.  
SAUDI  ARABIA  
9.161.   The Trade Policy reports prepared by the Kingdom of Bahrain and Oman as  well as the 
Secretariat highlight the continued growth of the economies of Bahrain and Oman despite the 
global economic and financial crisis. Both countries are to be praised for their very positive 
performances and their willingness to undertake long ter m ambitious reforms to promote the well -
being of their citizens in an increasingly open environment.  
9.162.   The Kingdom of Bahrain successfully reduced its economic dependence on oil and gas 
within the framework of its Economic Vision 2030. The measures and refor ms adopted have 
supported the diversification of its economy and boosted its financial system. In just five years, 
between 2007 and 2012, as a result of its initiatives, Bahrain gained 27 positions to become the 
12th most open economy on the ranking of the  Heritage Foundation Index of Economic Freedom.  
9.163.   In Oman, away from the GDP growth resulting from growing oil production and high oil 
prices, the Government of Oman, under the Long -Term Development Strategy (1996 -2020) is WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  successfully diversifying its econo my and creates employment opportunities for its citizens. Oman 
is also a very open economy as it ranks 12th out of 152 countries.  
9.164.   The economy of the Kingdom of Bahrain and Oman are highly connected to that of the 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Sau di Arabia believes in the reinforcement of bilateral 
trade, economic and investment relations with these two partners under the umbrella of the GCC 
Economic Agreement and its investment and trade rules.  
9.165.   The Kingdom of Bahrain and Oman both share their beli ef in the world trading system. 
They have demonstrated their commitment to the WTO and its rule -based system by actively 
supporting the Doha Development Agenda. In addition to their contribution to the strengthening of 
the world trading order and regional trade through the GCC, the Kingdom of Bahrain and Oman 
have concluded a very important number of economic ag reements. Bahrain has signed 
61 economic cooperation agreements and 31 bilateral investment treaties while Oman is a party to 
33 bilateral investmen t treaties.  
TUNISIA  
9.166.   My delegation congratulates Bahrain and Oman for the considerable efforts they have 
deployed since their last Trade Policy Reviews, to pursue their economic and trade liberalization 
policies by strengthening openness processes, simplify ing foreign trade procedures, establishing 
an environment conducive to the development of investment, and expanding and diversifying 
its trade and economic relations with its principal partners.  
9.167.   Since its last Trade Policy Review in 2007, the economy of th e Kingdom of Bahrain 
has continued to grow despite the world financial crisis and a drop in oil production in 2012. 
Bahrain 's balance of payments has posted current -account surpluses throughout the review period.  
9.168.   Since 2008, Bahrain has been applying a dev elopment strategy entitled "Economic Vision 
2030", which has the goal of reducing its heavy reliance on oil and gas, by putting major emphasis 
on financial services and the manufacturing sector.  
9.169.   For its part, and since its last Trade Policy Review in 2008,  Oman has recorded positive 
economic results, posting strong GDP growth, low inflation, a healthy budgetary position and  solid 
external accounts. Growth has been sustained by oil production and an open and transparent 
trading regime.  
9.170.   The investment regime is a key feature in the development of the Omani economy. 
It offers an investment -conducive legal regime, a free -market economy, and a stable 
macroeconomic environment. Oman aims to create a highly efficient diversified economy, based 
on renewable resource s and integrated into the world economy.  
9.171.   Tunisia attaches great importance to the long -standing cooperative relationship it has with 
Bahrain and Oman, two brother countries. Tunisia benefits from a large number of projects carried 
out in these two countrie s; and our countries are determined to strengthen and  consolidate this 
cooperation in all domains.  
SEPARATE  CUSTOMS  TERRITORY  OF TAIWAN,  PENGHU,  KINMEN  AND  MATSU  
9.172.   My G overnment attaches great importance to our bilateral relationship with the countries 
of the GCC union. Indeed, in both the Kingdom of Bahrain and in Oman, we have already set up 
representative offices to promote economic and trade and cultural activities. Likewise, Oman has 
also set up a commercial office in the Separate Customs of Taiwan, Peng hu, Kinmen and Matsu for 
the same purposes.  
9.173.   Oman is a fellow -member of the Group of Recently Acceded Members, the RAMS group 
and, a s the coordinator of this group  we would like to take the opportunity to express our 
appreciation of Oman 's contributions an d its active participation in the group, as well as its 
consistent commitment to strengthening the multilateral tr ading system.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  9.174.   From the R eport of the G overnment of Oman, we can see that it is endeavouring to 
diversify its economic activities. Though its economy is  still rather narrowly based on  oil and 
related industries, Oman has declared its ambition that it wants to increase GDP shares of 
agriculture to over 3%, and of fisher ies to 2% in the coming years.  
9.175.   The results of Bahrain 's economic diversificat ion strategies are impressive, especially in the 
liberalization o f its telecommunication sector.  
9.176.   However, may we also tak e this opportunity to urge the G overnment of Oman to consider 
relaxing some of the restrictions on foreign investment. We notice that, according to current laws, 
all foreign investments require the approval of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and foreign 
investment with a capital of RO (Omani Riyal) 150,000 or less is banned. In principle, Foreign 
investors are not allowed to own mo re than 50% of companies . Also, certain services are excluded 
from foreign investment. In the interests of boosting investment flows and stimulating 
international trade, we would encourage Oman may like to consider further refo rms in this area in 
the futur e. 
9.177.   We have today added six more questions in writing, on the s ubject of Bahrain 's and 
Oman 's energy sectors, specifically in petroleum and e lectricity and water sector for Bahrain, the 
oil sector and nat ural gas for Oman. Besides, my G overnment is also int erested in the new labour 
law Bahrain has adopted in July 2012 to improve labour standards for national and foreign 
workers. We would like to understand Bahrain 's experience in this regard.  
BRAZIL  
9.178.   The economy of Bahrain exhibited strong growth in the revi ew period. Despite the 
deceleration i n economic growth in 2011, Bahra in's economy seems to have fully recovered, 
registering 4.8% of GDP growth in 2013, with sound  macroeconomic indicators. Bahra in's trade 
surplus almost tripled from 2006 to 2012. Brazil a lso welcomes the successful development 
strategy implemented by Bahrain to reduce its high dependence on oil and gas.  
9.179.   The trade flow between Brazil and Bahrain is quite significant. Brazil is Bahrain 's fifth 
largest merchandise exporter. After a decrease d ue to the global financial crisis, trade with Bahrain 
rebounded. Between 2009 and 2013, the trade flow between Brazil and Bahrain grew on average 
3.6% a year.  
9.180.   Oman 's economic performance since its last TPR in 2008 has also been striking. The 
country 's GDP grew considerably, inflation remained low and the balance of payment is 
characterized by a strong surplus in trade in goods.  
9.181.   Foreign trade increased 22.7% since 2009, with a trade surplus totalling US$23.1 billion in 
2013. Commercial exchange with Brazil g rew significantly from 2009 to 2013, 925%, reaching 
US$1.2 billion. Brazil is now Oman 's fourth largest supplier.  
9.182.   From these data, it is evident the relevance of trade relations between Brazil, Bahrain and 
Oman. Both countries are important commercial part ners to Brazil. Brazil 's exporters are 
concentrated in basic products, especially iron ore and meat, while Brazil imports fertilizer, fuel 
and aluminium.  
9.183.   Despite this positive retrospect, there is room for improvement in our bilateral trade 
relations. With  this objective in mind, Brazil presented questions to Bahrain regarding SPS 
measures. Brazil currently faces trade restrictions regarding an embargo on bovine meat and meat 
products, due to sanitary concerns in relation to the risk of Bovine Spongiform En cephalopathy 
(BSE), despite the OIE 's recognition of Brazil as a country with negligible risk for such disease.  
9.184.   Brazil stands ready to further enhance its cooperation and trade ties with Bahrain and 
Oman.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  10  REPLIES BY THE REPRE SENTATIVE OF QATAR A ND ADDITIO NAL COMMENTS  
10.1.  Let me start by thanking the Trade Policy Review Body Chairperson, His Excellency Joakim 
Reiter as well as our discussant, His Excellency Ambassador Syafri Baharuddin , and the WTO for all 
the work done conducive to the success ful culmination o f our TPR.  I would like to congratulate Her 
Excellency Ambassador Mariam Salleh from Malaysia for her appointment as the new Chairwoman 
of the Trade Policy Review Body. We wish her success and, moreover,  we would like to let her 
know that we stand ready to  support her whenever she asks us to.  
10.2.  I would also like to express our deep appreciation for the proc ess that is winding down 
today.  This has been a worthwhile exercise where interesting and important issues were addressed 
through an open and frank dialogu e. In particular,  it has provided us with the opportunity to 
review o ur trade and economic policies.  As part of Qatar 's long-term development process,  we 
foresee a lar ge role for the private sector both national and foreign  in the diversification of our 
national economy . This growth will be supported by a continuation of our reform p rocess over the 
next few years.  The coverage of these reforms will touch all the areas of interest expressed by 
delegations during the TPR.  
10.3.  We encourage all delegations to take time to review our answers t o questions posed by 
Members,  including bovine and ovine imports, intellectual property rights, GCC , FTA negotiations, 
certificates of conformity, an d other trade related issues.  We shall respond to new questions in 
detail in th e short est possible time.  
10.4.  I would like to address some of the issues raised by Member States du ring the TPR 's 
opening session.  A number of questions were raised regarding our foreign investm ent regime. First 
and foremost,  the State of Qatar views its forei gn investment regime as an inst rument of 
economic development.    
10.5.  Consistent with this,  the authorities have amended the foreign investment law on at least 
three different occasions to reflect emerging  economic needs and especially  to accommodate the 
implem entation of vario us strategic development plans.  This has led to a progressive opening of 
local markets  to foreign capital since 2000  when the current foreign investm ent law was originally 
enacted. Since then,  we have continued to broaden the scope of the law by adding sectors where 
majority foreign ownership is permitted. In fact,  the overwhelming majority of Qatar 's econo my is 
open to business for all.  
10.6.  In addition,  the recent decision to upgrade Qatar 's stock market from a frontier to emerging 
markets sta tus re flects how far our economy and, in particular,  the financial marke t have evolved 
in recent years.  We expect that this approach will promote the necessary knowledge transfer to 
local business people in order for the private sector to consolidate itsel f. 
10.7.  We also take note of Members ' concern s regarding our notifications.  In fact, we have been 
consistently keeping up with our notification commitments, pa rticularly in the areas of 
antidumping, tariff schedule, safeguards and countervailing measures, intel lectual property r ights, 
services trade and state -trading enterprises, among others.  In regar ds to additional notifications  
they are currently being processed and are expecte d to be submitted very shortly.    
10.8.  Qatar reiterates its commitment to the Trade Fac ilitation Agreement and encourages the 
speedy conclusion of other Doha Development Agenda issues  with a view to sustained reform 
process es in all WTO Member countries. We will, of course,  continue to collaborate in whatever is 
necessary to implement this f undament ally important WTO achievement.   
10.9.  Qatar is committed to human resour ce development for all Qataris.  We have embarked on a 
significant human re source development agenda. C onsist ent with The Qatar national Vision  2030 
and enshrined in our constitution , our laws and policies promote  the welfare of everyone involved 
in the development of our country.  In this regard, Qatar will do whatever it takes to preserve the 
dignity and security of all those who participate in our economy.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  10.10.   Most Members took note of  Qatar 's strong economic growth during the period under review 
as well as inc reasing bilateral trade flows. For our part,  we will continue to implement economic 
policies that preserv e and promote such expansion. Furthermore,  we envision trade policy to pla y 
a fundamental role to facilitate the successful outcome of the various challenges exemplified by 
the WTO and the Government reports.  
10.11.   As me ntioned in the opening remarks,  Qatar always welcomes discussions on i ts trade and 
economic policies  both within and  out of the current TPR framework.  We welcome everyone to 
Doha to experience our hospitality and tourism facilities and to discuss further wa ys to improve 
our trade regime.  
10.12.   In closing, I would like to restate our commitment to the rules of the multilateral  trading 
system and our continued efforts to develop a clear and transparent trading regime. Thank you all  
and may our actions  have as their target and their result the  wellbeing of our people.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  11  REPLIES BY THE REPRE SENTATIVE OF BAHRAIN  AND ADDITIONAL COMME NTS 
11.1.  Good morning to you all, it is a pleasure to be back here for our closing session.  
11.2.  First of all, let me express my thanks to H .E. Mr Chairman Ambassador Reiter of Sweden, 
for his remarkable and cordial conduct of our Trade Policy Review, which coincide ntally marks his 
last Chairing session of this most vital Committee in the WTO. His efficient management during the 
last year  of this vital WTO Trade Policy Review Committee was acclaimed by a ll WTO Members and 
the Secretariat.  
11.3.  We are equally pleased to we lcome his successor to the chairmanship of th e TPR 
Committee, Ambassador Mari am Salleh, the perman ent representative of Malaysia.  
11.4.  Our special  thanks are also due to H.E. Mr  Syafri Adnan Baharudding, the Permanent 
Representative of The Republic of Indonesia , for his insightful a nd candid introductory remarks.  
11.5.  I would like also to take this opportunity to reiterate our appreciation to the WTO TPR 
Division for the quality of their reports, and their technical and functional coor dination of the entire 
process.  
11.6.  At the outset, I would like to reaffirm my earlier remarks about Bahrain 's unwavering 
commitment to a strong rules -based multilateral trading system. As a small, open, developing 
economy that thrives on free trade, we see this as the best guarantee of the continued expansion 
of international trade and investment. This in turn will drive global economic gr owth and 
development.  
11.7.  We recognize that our WTO commitments, our regular notifications, and trade policy reviews 
are among the c ardinal pillars of this sys tem. 
11.8.  During our opening session, we were pleased to see a high level of in terest in Bahrain 's TPR. 
This has been clearly reflected in the valuable statements  and comments of distinguished 
Committee membership for which we thank you all.  
11.9.  I am happy to repor t that the Bahrain has replied to most of these questions. We provided 
written answers to all 111 questions received within the WTO time limit, and we hope that the 
responses were to your satisfaction. Further questions that we received before, during and after 
the opening session will be fully attended to in due time.  
11.10.   I would also like to directly address a number of the valuable remarks made during the 
first session.   
11.11.   I have already noted our firm belief in the importance of free trade on a multilateral basis. 
We are pleased to note that almost all the statements  made by the M embers have highlighted the 
substantial expansion of trade flow between their respective countries and Bahrain.  
11.12.   We also welcome the in creasing interest shown by the M embers of the C ommittee, and the 
WTO Secretariat, in the ongoing regional integration efforts undertaken by the GCC. We take note 
of the desire shown by many delegations for having closer economic, trading and investment ties 
between the GCC a nd their relative countries a nd/or their regional blocks.  
11.13.   In Bahrain we know that our ability to grow our enterprises, diversify our economy, and 
generate quality employment for our population are to a large extent determined by our ability to 
embrace opportunities beyond the confine s of our national market. Similarly, we rely on many 
goods and knowledge from other countries.  
11.14.   The distinguished d iscussant made important points about the need to manage our reliance 
on expatriate labo ur. Before I address this question, let me note that t he economic development 
and diversification of the Bahraini economy has for a long time created a situation of excess 
demand for labo ur. WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  11.15.   Let me also remind that our millennia -long history as a regional hub for trade means that 
Bahrain has been a meeting pl ace for people. Our ability to capitalize on this human capital, the 
new ideas, and connections has been an important element of our integration in the global 
economy.  
11.16.   Having said this, we have always valued our human capital as our greatest national asset  
and a key source of our competitiveness. Bahrain is a regional pioneer in the area of education and 
we are constantly seeking better ways to equip our national workforce with the necessary 
knowledge and skills. We wish to position them for quality employm ent in sectors that offer 
significant value added and drive our transition to a knowledge -based economy.  
11.17.   We have been pursuing a systematic and comprehensive education reform for the past 
decade, including a whole array of targeted further education soluti ons. 
11.18.   The results speak for themselves. Bahrain is the only country in the region to have a clear 
majority of its national workforce employed in the private sector. Bahrainis are active in all sectors 
of the economy on all levels.  
11.19.   Bahrain has for decades se rved as a regional hub for finance and the importance of 
financial services as the largest non -oil sector of the economy is an achievement we want to 
safeguard and further develop.  
11.20.   Our commitment to international trade and integration provides immediate op portunities 
for the development of sectors such as trade finance and insurance. But, as noted, Bahrain is one 
of the global pioneers of the rapidly growing Islamic finance industry.  
11.21.   We see significant further growth potential in this area. Among other thin gs, we hope to 
use our track record and resources as a basis for more effective collaboration with other centres  as 
we work to build a global market place for Islamic finance.  
11.22.   Several discussants noted the need for continued diversification efforts, especi ally as the 
fiscal system of the Kingdom still remains heavily reliant on oil exports. Again, I wish to note the 
transformative achievements since the turn of the century when the real GDP share of the oil 
sector more than halved to less than 20%.  
11.23.   We have seen significant progress in sectors which are not even directly reliant on 
hydrocarbons, for instance private education and health care. We are continuously working to 
capture elements of international and regional value chains that play to our competitiv e strengths 
and create quality employment.  
11.24.   We fully recognize the need to remodel our fiscal system and a number of efforts are 
underway in this regard. The growth of the non -oil economy is creating new revenue sources. But 
we are also working to boost the  efficiency of government spending through more strategically 
anchored policy making, and greater transparency through institutions such as the Tender Board 
and the National Audit Court.  
11.25.   We are discussing ways to remodel our basic utilities and food subsid ies in order to 
discourage waste and to better target the social policy objectives we wish to pursue.  
11.26.   Last but not least, we persist in our efforts to redraw the demarcation line between the 
private and public sectors by encouraging the greater involvement  of private capital in a range of 
activities. We have made significant progress in privatization and public -private partnerships, and 
intend to continue these.  
11.27.   Some participants highlighted the need for a national competition law. We fully recognize 
the im portance of creating a level playing field in an economy whose development will have to rely 
on the private sector. We are long -standing champions of SME development.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  11.28.   We recognize that regulatory reform is an important element in this area. Among other 
things, we are revising our company law in order to reduce the burden facing entrepreneurs. We 
are further developing mechanisms to enable our companies to grow by exporting their goods and 
services.  
11.29.   We appreciate the important points made about transparency  and corporate governance. 
This has been a key focus area of our reform efforts and I refer to my earlier comments about the 
national institutions created to boost transparency.  
11.30.   Bahrain 's Minister of Industry and Commerce (M oIC) is the focal point for WTO 
notifications exerts all necessary efforts to fully meet its notification obligations, in accordance with 
the WTO agreements. It is worth noting that Bahrain has recently benefited from a UNDP technical 
expertise identifying areas where notifications are r equired, and the appropriat e format of such 
notifications.  Most of the WTO notification requirements have been forwarded to the WTO very 
recently before our present meeting. We will certainly complement that in the near future.  
11.31.   In closing, I would like to reiterate the excellent opportunity offered by the TPR exercise 
for the Kingdom of Bahrain to hear insightful views and recommendations on how to continue to 
build on our strong legacy of openness and our commitment to free trade.  
11.32.   We can assure the M embers  that those recommendations will be dealt with diligently for 
the best benefit of the Bahraini economy and the shar ed interests of the entire WTO M embership.  
11.33.   Thank you all once again for all the time and effort you have put into this process, and I 
look fo rward to our continued cooperation with the WTO.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  12  REPLIES BY THE REPRE SENTATIVE OF OMAN  AND ADDITIONAL COMME NTS 
12.1.  I wish to express my sincere thanks to you , Mr Chairman , and to all distinguished delegates 
for their presence and participation in this meeting  and for their support and kind words of 
encouragement for Oman 's economic and trade policies. I  would like also to welcome H.E  Mariam 
MD Salleh , Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the WTO, as the new 
Chairperson of the Trade Policy Rev iew Body and wish her success.  
12.2.  The Sultanate of Oman has followed an open, liberal, transparent and predictable trade 
policy fully conforming to the basic principles and rules of the multilateral trading system. This 
review reinforces our continued adheren ce to the rules, disciplines and commitments under the 
WTO Agreements.  
12.3.  A number of distinguished delegates had raised questions and made  comments in the 
meeting on 22  April 2014. I appreciate their interest in Oman and will attempt to respond to these.  
12.4.  Questions were raised on Oman 's investment regime. Oman is in the process of examining 
its legislation on foreign investment with a view to making it  more liberal and more 
investor -friendly. We would inform Members when this process is finalized. Having said that, we 
have to strike an appropriate balance between foreign and domestic investment, in order to ensure 
sufficient opportunity for smaller domestic investors to participate in economic development. It 
may be pointed out that Oman has already made very l iberal investment commitments on a 
number of important services including banking and financial services and telecom services.  
12.5.  The hono urable discussant and a number of delegations raised questions and made 
comments on Omanization and foreign workers. The re is a general misunderstanding about our 
Omanization policy. It is not meant to close the door to foreign professionals and foreign workers 
or to discriminate against them. The Omanization Policy is aimed at providing job opportunities to 
young, qualifie d Omanis. It is sure ly the responsibility of every G overnment to provide job 
opportunities to its citizens. That Omanization is not against foreigners is evident from the fact 
that the number of foreigners in Oman  doubled between 2010 and 2013.  
12.6.  On consular  authentication of documents - the issue identified by you, Mr  Chairman - it is to 
prevent goods landing in Oman on fraudulent documents. The authentication is done on the same 
day without any delay. Incidentally, the practice is not against any WTO rule.    
12.7.  We have taken careful note of the concerns raised by the United States. Written replies 
were already made on some of these while others will be addressed in a constructive manner. As 
regards the concern about notifications, Oman is fully aware of its co mmitments and intends to be 
in compliance with its notification obligations at all times. However, it is worth noting that we 
would require technical assistance for some notifications.  
12.8.  The EU and Australia raised questions about the FTA with GCC. The issue  is under active 
consideration by the GCC and we expect a  decision to be taken shortly.  
12.9.  Oman is in the process of examining the preparation for initiating accession to the 
Government Procurement Agreement. We are conscious of our commitment in this respec t.  
12.10.   The one -stop-shop for commercial registration is being improved and updated through a 
project by an international consultancy company.  
12.11.   We are tackling in all seriousness the issue of counterfeit auto parts raised by Japan. We 
are against counterfeitin g and we realize the dangers posed by the use of counterfeit auto parts.  
12.12.   With respect to comments on diversification and privatization, I had adequately dealt with 
these i ssues in my opening statement.  
12.13.   A Member made comments about Competition Law. Oman is  already work ing on a draft 
Competition Law.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  12.14.   With respect to Canada 's question on tourism, we note that we have alr eady submitted a 
written reply.  
12.15.   To our Australian friends, we appreciate the comment made with regards to its readiness 
to welcome more Omani  students, as we expect the number of Omanis stud ying in Australia to 
increase.  
12.16.   I hope I have responded to most of the questions. We have received follow -up questions 
from China, Russia, Chinese Taipei and EU. These questions and any residual questions wi ll be 
replied to, later, within the one month period.  
12.17.   To conclude, I c onvey my sincere thanks to the d iscussant for all his efforts and excellent 
work which was invaluable to the TPR exercises. Our thanks go also to all delegates, to the WTO 
Secretariat an d to the interpreters.  
DISCUSSANT  
12.18.   Having followed both sessions in the first day of the TPR of Qatar, Ba hrain and Oman, I 
noticed that M embers have touched upon several important aspects on the trade policies and 
macro -economy of the three countries under review. I am of the view that such inquiries or 
concerns are usefu l as an exercise for the three M embers to reflect and to evaluate on what have 
been achieved so far.  
12.19.   Allow me now to present my assessment as the discussant for this TP R on the following 
highlights:  
12.20.   In general, M embers can see that Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, have been successful in 
bringing their economies to prosperities. This achievement is not only due to the considerable 
contribution of their energy sectors, but also to their openness to i nternational trade. Taking into 
account that these countries are significant suppliers of world energy and net importers of several 
vital products, trade liberalization is indeed a necessity. Such openness is definitely in line with 
their WTO commitments a nd must therefore b e preserved and enhanced. Some M embers have 
shown their keen interests to see similar level of openness be ref lected in investment policies.  
12.21.   The growing integration of these countries into the GCC custom union can further boost 
their pa th to liberalization and strengthen their resilience to withstand possible future global 
economic turmoil. With a target to reach full implementation of the customs union by end 2015, 
the GCC as a relatively open economy has been undertaking progressive li beralization in which 
trade barriers are kept at the minimum, import and export procedures were made uniform and 
trade policies are more coordinated. This dynamic regional integration would hopefully 
complement to its members ' engagements in the multilater al trading system of the WTO.  
12.22.   Despite those economic achievements and commendable commitments to keep open and 
liberal trade regimes, like other M embers reviewed through this TPR mechanism, there are always 
some rooms for improvement. Allow me to highligh ts their respec tive challenges individually:   
12.23.   For Qatar: some M embers have suggested Qatar to ease its current level of restrictions on 
investment, such as removing the cap on foreign ownership in several sectors of the economy and 
expanding upon the list  of sectors subject t o 100% foreign ownership. Some M embers also 
recommend more intense law enforcement on patent and copyrights protection and expedite trade 
disputes b efore the courts. A particular M ember requests Qatar to loosen up its SPS measure on 
bovine meat and meat products by considering its negligible risk for disease. I also noted a 
question  which highlights the need for s tate-owned enterprises to be more transparent by 
disclosing thei r annual financial statements.  
12.24.   For Bahrain: some M embers sug gest Bahrain to reduce its restrictions on foreign direct 
investments as well as on foreign provision of tourism services. Some also recommends Bahrain 
remove its exclusion of foreigners in some economic activities. Some attentions on intellectual 
property rights touch upon Bahrain 's enforcement to address trademark counterfeiting and WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  software piracy as well as difficulties in processing patent applications. As a hub for financial 
services Bahrain is also recommended to ensure its sustainability of com petition in Islamic finance. 
A Member also advises Bahrain to reflect its liberalization efforts in se rvices in its GATS 
Commitments.  
12.25.   For Oman: I noticed that some comments also suggested Oman to ease restrictions on 
foreign direct investments and the exclusion  of foreigners from certain activities. Others welcome 
Oman 's current plan to explore the possibility of introducing an open skies policy and allowing 
private investment in a number of services related to air transport. Some M embers would like to 
see when the draft law on Islamic insurance, which is currently under preparation, be fin alized and 
comes into force. A M ember also questions the rationale behind Oman 's import prohibitions for 
infant milk and fishing boats. A greater level of enforcement on intell ectual property protecti on is 
also expected from Oman.  
12.26.   I would like now to get back to ov erall assessment for the three M embers under review 
and try to present comparative evaluation on some particular sectors. For telecommunication 
sector, despite having  no GATS commitment in the sector, Qatar 's investment and liberalization in 
telecommunications have grown significantly and played an important role in the development of 
non-hydrocarbon sector. The Qatari Government has ended monopoly and made important l egal 
and regulatory changes in telecommunications. In Bahrain,  telecommunications market has also 
been liberalized since 2003. This sector is well regulated for anti -competitive practices. However, 
the related -Bahraini authority undertakes periodic reviews  to ensure that operators do not hold 
significant market power or dominance in the market.  In Oman, although the role of s tate-owned 
company remains dominant in the telecommunications market, two licenses to offer fixed -line 
services have been issued and a  third one for mobile services is under consideration. It seems that 
this policy is taken as part of Oman 's commitment in GATS schedule. The authority in fact can act 
against anti -competitive b ehaviour in telecommunications.  
12.27.   On the role of s tate-owned ente rprise or SOEs, a heavy reliance on the role of SOEs in 
Qatar is still persistent in major sectors despite significant efforts to encourage private sector 
investment and business establishment. While the private sector has been growing, the share of 
public  and mixed sector in Qatar 's remains higher. Certain laws or decrees also appear to grant 
exclusive privileges to a number of s tate-owned or controlled enterprises for importation or 
exportation. In Bahrain, public sector also continues to have a direct an d strong influence on the 
economy and the contribution of SOEs to the economy remains significant. However, as part of its 
economic diversification strategy, the authority has been seeking to foster greater private sector 
participation in the economy. The role of SOEs also remains extensive in Oman in spite of high 
demand for privatization. Several s tate-owned companies continue to dominate manufac turing and 
services activities.  
12.28.   I noted that the three countries under review are developing economic zones in which 
privileges are granted to business activities. Qatar 's 2005 law on free zones regulates the 
establishment of zones for special purposes. Two zones on science and technology and financial 
centre are in operation. The zones provide certain advantages t o attract businesses and 
technology institutes, a nd are supported by the State. Qatar has also issued free -trade-zone 
provisions within its Custom Law and plans  are underway to establish a free zone in 2014. This 
policy is taken to attract international ba nking companies, insurance business, and related financial 
services to Qatar. Bahrain does not have free zones or export processing zones. However, some 
incentives are provided in industrial zones. Foreign -owned firms also enjoy the same investment 
opportu nities in these zones as Bahraini companies. Oman has three free zones to promote 
exports and industrial development in which major production and manufacturing are often located 
and various special investment incentives are granted. In these zones, foreig n owned companies 
also enjoy equal treatments as local companies in respect of access or bonded warehouses.  
12.29.   Managing revenues obtained from hydrocarbon resources to promote other sectors for 
diversification are the sorts of policies that must be consistent ly implemented by the three 
members. More determined attempts should be carried out to ensure that implementing 
regulations on the ground be persistently applied. With the present comfort zone of being high -
income economies, such consistent efforts for div ersification would be a great challenge for these 
members and complacencie s should always be kept at bay.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  12.30.   The large presence of expatriates has also become a particular common feature of the 
three countries under review. With high demands on workforce to s upport their vibrant economies, 
dependence on foreign workers will likely remain an important demographic phenomenon in the 
near future. Such a condition will continue to require prudent and flexible immigration policies, 
improved systems of labour affairs  as well as continu ing assurances to fairly fulfil  migrant workers ' 
rights including domestic workers who are generally excluded in their labour law provisions.  
12.31.   In conclusion, in spite of some challenges that I mentioned, which leave some rooms for 
improve ment on several aspects, I would like to commend Qatar, Bahrain and Oman for their 
generally open economies. I have a conviction that with their prudent macroeconomic policies 
supported by existing abundant revenues from the energy sectors and consistent d iversification 
policies, the three M embers under review will be able to maintain current economic stature as well 
as achieving their long term visions for diversified economies. I would like to end my statement on 
this second day by wishing Qatar, Bahrain and Oman s uccessful trade policy reviews.  
RUSSIAN  FEDERATION  
12.32.   Since Russia didn 't raise the flag at the first day of the TPRB session on Tuesday , we would 
like to join other delegations in welcoming the second TPR of Qatar and Oman as well as the third 
one of Bahrain and give a positive overall assessment of their economic policies, including trade 
and investment components. We highly appreciate current economic growth and significant 
progress since the last TPR. Direction on modernization and development of  human capital, action 
plans towards diversification of economy away from hydrocarbon dependency are challenges we 
are watching with great interest.  
12.33.   Nevertheless, we have some concerns with respect to  the following issues: subsidies for 
locally owned comp anies, transparency in customs regime, government procurement, restrictions 
and exclusions on FDI and export restrictions. The detailed questions were sent to the Secretariat 
on Tuesday and we would appreciate receiving inquired clarifications in due cours e. 
12.34.   In conclus ion, we would like to thank the d elegations of Qatar, Oman and Bahrain for their 
restless work throughout these months to make this TPR comprehensive and informative and 
congratulate the three count ries with their successful endeavo urs in this  context.  
EL SALVADOR  
12.35.   In bringing this interesting and fruitful exercise of review of Qatar 's trade policies 
to a conclusion, our delegation wishes once again to congratulate it for the results achieved 
in its national vision 2030 programme, which rests on  four development pillars, namely human 
development, social development, economic development and environmental development.  
12.36.   The human and economic links that unite us with the Kingdom of Qatar have 
been consolidated since the opening of our embassies in t he territories of Qatar 
and El Salvador,  respectively.  
12.37.   Our bilateral trading relations have strengthened in the period 2012 -2013, with our 
imports growing by US$5,241,000, which indicates an improvement in our trade balance with this 
Member  state. 
JAPAN  
12.38.   Japan extends our sincere appreciation for the efforts made by the delegations of Qatar, 
Bahrain and Oman to provide us with informative and helpful oral explanations regarding our 
concerns. I also appreciate the helpful comments from the discussant H.E.  Mr Syafri Adnan 
Baharuddin.  
12.39.   Japan has submitted two follow -up questions to Oman in a written format, concerning 
publication of Sultani decrees and Ministerial decisions in the official gazette, and measures against WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  infringement of IPRs. We are looking forward  to receiving answers to these questions in due 
course.  
12.40.   Finally, I wish Qatar, Bahrain and Oman a successful TPR, and their delegations a safe trip 
back to their respective capitals.  
EUROPEAN  UNION  
12.41.   The EU would like to thank the delegations of Qatar, Bahr ain and Oman for their answers 
already given . 
12.42.   With reference to Qatar, the EU has no follow -up questions.  
12.43.   With reference to Bahrain, the EU has to apologize for making a typo in addressing the 
question and apologize to Bahrain 's authorities . We would kind ly ask Bahrain to reply to our 
question on the administrative marketing approval process of the medicinal products and plant 
production products in due course.  
12.44.   With reference to Oman, the EU appreciates having  received written answers to most of 
our advanc ed questions. But we have also noted that Oman 's authorities have omitted to reply to 
several questions claiming that they are not relevant to any WTO provision and therefore that they 
fall outside the scope of this TPR. In this respect, the EU would like to recall that the overall basic 
objective of trade policy reviews is that Members have to answer questions based on the context 
of their trade policy, economic and social background as it is stated in Annex 3 of the Marrakesh 
Agreement. In addition, the r ules adopted by Members do not provide for exceptions to answer 
questions raised in the framework of TPR if they are based on the Government and Secretariat 
supports.  
12.45.   We have also noted that there are replies missing to our questions 33 and 34 in copyright  
and, in this context, we take note of the statement made earlier. We would like to hope to receive 
replies to these questions in due course.  
12.46.   In closing, the EU would like to thank again the delegations of Qatar, Bahrain and Oman 
for their constructive par ticipation in this exercise.  
PAKISTAN  
12.47.   Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take the floor. I once again welcome the 
distinguished delegates back to this room.  
12.48.   First of all, I pay homage to your c hairmanship of this Body. We will miss you but we will 
continue to benefit from your wisdom and insight.  
12.49.   We welcome your successor to this position . We will extend all the cooperation to her and 
we wish her a very successful time at this Body.  
12.50.   On the first day I could not come -up with something formal , but I p icked-up several points 
while listening to the various statements . I very much welcome  this opportunity for an interactive 
session to discuss the Secretariat and the Government R eports that are, of course, very 
meticulous  and when you go into the details d ata become more interesting .  
12.51.   A few points : we learned that  the GCC had carried out a study on the FTAs. We know that 
this is not  complete d yet. We requested to share some details , which have not been shared yet but 
we will be waiting to see what the polic y is within the existing framework.  
12.52.   As there is time, I would like to refer to a book I have gone through "The GCC E conomies : 
Stepping Up to Future Challenges"  published in 2012 and edited by Mohamed A. Ramady . It gives 
some very interesting insight. It s ays that "If it had not been for the massive returns from oil and 
gas, Bahrain along with Qatar and Abu  Dhabi would be sleepy islands lamenting the destruction of WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  their pearling fleets by the development of Japan 's cultured pearls which killed their pearli ng trade. 
Aware of the impeding problems of relying on finite resources such as oil (and the volatile nature 
of their prices), the GCC countries embarked on massive diversification and investment programs 
in order to reduce their dependence on those resour ces for their income. The global financial crisis 
of 2008 (which saw the price of oil tumbling to US $34 a barrel  in December of that year from a 
peak of US $146 in July ) is still fresh in people 's mind s and demonstrates strongly what can go 
wrong. Hundreds of billions of petrodollars were spent by these countries on building new touristic 
and economic cities; massive financial reserves (known as Sovereign Wealth Funds or SWFs) were 
accumulated and used to invest internationally through buying commercial outl ets and 
shareholding in major foreign countries …. The UAE became the world 's new tourist and cultural 
attraction, Qatar aimed at building the foundations for a knowledge economy and hopes to be an 
international destination for world events and conferences,  Bahrain worked very hard trying to 
establish a reputation as a global financial centre… . Some GCC countries (especially the UAE) have 
also invested heavily in renewable and potential future energy fuels such as solar and nuclear. 
Some experts believe th at the GCC countries could spend  about US$200 billion on such projects ". I 
found these were interesting details that I wanted to share.  
12.53.   There were some points related to the migrants  working in these countries. I will not have 
any specific comment  on this.  It is a relatively complex position and the subject within the WTO 
context  is dealt within services Mode 4 but it crosses the migration policies. I hope these countries 
will not recommend  any except ions to rules . 
12.54.   There has been an accent on increasing inves tment commitments and in liberalizing the 
investment regime s. I agree with Oman that they have to deal with this subject on object ive 
criteria.  
12.55.   My last co mment is on the competition law . The competition laws are being put in place 
but the regulation of mac ro-prudential policies should not translate into any sort of protection and 
the State must not become a gate way for the monopolies which developed  during the process.   
12.56.   With thes e short comments I thank you Mr  Chairman and  the Members being reviewed as 
well as the d iscussant for a very informative and insightful discussion that took place. I go  away 
wiser about the economies from this meeting.  
PARAGUAY  
12.57.   As I did not participate on the first day, I will be very brief. I would like to congratulate the 
delegatio ns for this interesting exercise and for their very constructive participation in the event. 
Exercises such as this suggests that trade policy reviews are, and will continue to be, one of the 
most in -depth and essentially technical analyses undertaken in t he international community . 
12.58.   We congratulate Qatar for its National Vision 2030 programme, which, for the first time 
in the region, encompasses human, social, economic and environmental aspects. My country 's 
trade relations with Qatar have grown considerably  since the opening of the Qatar Embassy 
in Asunción, and the forthcoming opening of Paraguay 's embassy in Doha.  
12.59.   We want to continue deepening these relations; and we are very interested in extending 
them to other issues.  
12.60.   Lastly, I would particularly like t o congratulate my colleagues from these countries ' 
permanent missions, who have worked very hard on this exercise.  
UNITED STATES  
12.61.   Let me join the others in thanking and congratulating Qatar, Oman and Bahrain for their 
successful TPR engagement and also than k them fo r answering in writing today to the questions 
that the United States has raised in regard to several specific areas.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  12.62.   We will have a small number of follow -up questions for each and we look forward to those 
answers. Let me also thank the d iscussant  for his insightful comments as well  as the Chair for his 
successful term as Chair of this Body.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  13  CONCLUDING REMARKS B Y THE CHAIRPERSON  
13.1.  This Trade Policy Review of Qatar, Bahrain and Oman has provided an excellent opportunity 
to improve our understanding o f their recent trade developments, their trade and investment 
policies, and the challenges they face. Our discussions have benefited greatly from the valuable 
and active participation of H.E. Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim Al Thani, Minister of Economy and 
Commer ce, head of t he delegation of Qatar; H.E. Mr  Nader Almoayyed, Under -Secretary of 
Commerce Affairs, head of the del egation of Bahrain; and H.E. Mr Ahmed Al -Dheeb, 
Under -Secretary, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, as head of the delegation of Oman. I am 
also grateful to H.E. Syafri Adnan Baharuddin, Ambassador of Indonesia, for his insightful 
contributions as discussant, and to Members for their constructive engagement in this Review.  
13.2.  Members congratulated Qatar, Bahrain and Oman for having experienced high  GDP growth 
rates since their last Reviews, and for having weathered the global economic and financial crisis 
well. Macroeconomic indicators have remained sound during the period under review, with low 
inflation rates, generally balanced fiscal positions, and current account surpluses. Merchandise 
trade has more than doubled during the review period, mainly due to increased hydrocarbon 
output and high prices. There was appreciation for the programmes undertaken to promote the 
well-being of their citizens th rough investing in education, healthcare, and sustainable 
development. Members welcomed the steps taken by Qatar, Bahrain and Oman to promote 
business -friendly environments.  
13.3.  All three countries enjoy a high standard of living, Qatar being now one of the we althiest 
countries in the world. But despite their many similarities, including as members of the GCC, the 
three countries have unique characteristics that set them apart. For Qatar, it was noted that as the 
world 's largest LNG exporter and possessing the third largest natural gas reserves, it had 
capitalised on its hydrocarbon wealth and was investing in down -stream industries for 
diversification. In contrast, Bahrain and Oman have more limited hydrocarbon resources. In Oman, 
hydrocarbons still dominate th e economy, yet services and manufacturing are also important. For 
Bahrain, it is the services sector that is the main driver of the economy, especially financial 
services.  
13.4.  Members recalled that common challenges also exist for the countries ' longer term 
resilience. Not least diversifying their economies away from hydrocarbons remains a challenging 
priority with a number of ongoing initiatives in place for each country. Their narrow economic, 
export and fiscal base obviously could expose them to vulnerabilit ies. In addition, their reliance on 
a large and often majority expatriate work force was another important issue that require 
consideration for the future. Concerns were raised by some Members on the visa and exit 
procedures, the sponsorship program, and w orker rights ' issues, especially in relation to Qatar. 
Members were interested in current and future policy instruments to address these issues.  
13.5.  Turning to the countries ' trade and investment policies, Members commended Qatar, 
Bahrain and Oman on their rel atively open trade and investment regimes. The countries have 
generally low tariffs, few non -tariff barriers to trade, and express firm commitment to the 
multilateral trading system, including the Doha Development Agenda. Members were equally 
pleased about  the ongoing reforms in the area of customs procedures, which would put the three 
countries well ahead of their upcoming trade facilitation implementation requirements; the 
introduction of the single window application in Qatar and Bahrain was in particula r appreciated. 
The three Members were praised for never having resorted to using anti -dumping, countervailing 
or safeguard measures. Furthermore, it was noted that none had used the WTO Dispute 
Settlement Mechanism. Members also noted that the three countr ies were signatories to the ITA, 
and encouraged them to pursue more liberalization by participating in the extended ITA, currently 
under negotiation.  
13.6.  As members of the GCC Customs Union, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman apply a common external 
tariff, and common le gislation on customs procedures, valuation, and contingency measures. 
However, each maintains its internal customs posts, lists of restricted and prohibited goods, as 
well as some exceptions to the common external tariff. Similarly, it was acknowledged tha t the 
GCC Customs Union did not yet integrate its parties ' trade and related policies in other areas, such 
as services, IPRs and public procurement, and divergences remain on the application of certain WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  standards or technical regulations. In this context, M embers wished to know how Qatar, Bahrain 
and Oman were planning to further harmonize their trade -related legislation within the GCC 
framework and the intentions of the GCC with respect to new or stalled bilateral free trade 
agreements.  
13.7.  Against this general  positive economic outlook and overall favourable assessment of the 
trade policies of Qatar, Bahrain and Oman, the Review has also highlighted some areas of possible 
improvements. Areas for attention brought up by Members during the Review, either through the 
question and answer process or through their statements, include the following:  
(1) Customs procedures and tariffs: Despite the countries ' generally low tariffs, Members 
noted that the bound rates were significantly higher than the applied rates in mos t cases, 
and this could limit the predictability of the tariff regimes. For Bahrain, there was a lower 
level of binding coverage compared to the other two countries, and Bahrain was 
encouraged to increase its level of bindings. In the case of Qatar, there were concerns 
about the non -publication of the tariff schedule and applied rates that exceeded the 
bound rates on six steel products. On this latter point, Members welcomed Qatar 's 
announcement that it had already taken steps to bring its tariffs in line w ith its WTO 
commitments. Members requested more information about plans to reform or abolish 
consularization requirements by Bahrain and Oman.  
(2) Intellectual property rights: Members encouraged Qatar, Bahrain and Oman to improve 
protection of IPRs by, i nter alia, strengthening their institutional frameworks. In respect 
of Qatar, there was concern that the IP laws remained non -operational due to the lack of 
implementing legislation, and Members noted with pleasure that Qatar planned to 
remedy this issue d uring the course of this year. For Bahrain it was noted that IP 
legislation should be notified to the WTO.  
(3) Government procurement: Members were interested in plans of the three countries in 
respect to joining or becoming observers to the GPA.  
(4) SPS: In the case of Qatar and Bahrain, clarification was sought on the import ban on 
bovine and ovine meat and the main food safety law, and how it aligned food standards 
with Codex Alimentarius, ISO, and other bodies.  
(5) Services and investments: While welco ming that Qatar, Bahrain and Oman have 
relatively liberal investment regimes, and noting progressive improvements in these 
regimes, Members inquired about plans to reduce restrictions and barriers to FDI, which 
in the three countries exist at different deg rees. In particular, with respect to Qatar and 
Oman, Members were concerned about the foreign ownership restrictions in many 
sectors, which essentially necessitated having a local partner. Against the background of 
the important role of state -owned enterpr ises in the three countries ' economies, more 
information was sought about plans for future privatization, as this could impact future 
prospects for foreign investment. Members also noted that the three countries had 
varying levels of GATS commitments, and encouraged them to further liberalize services, 
as services held particular potential for growth and diversification of their economies. 
Tourism, telecommunications, construction, finance and transportation services were in 
particular very promising for th e countries concerned.  
(6) Notifications and transparency: Members underlined the need for the three countries to 
make new or revised notifications with the view to respecting their WTO obligations and 
more generally to persist in efforts to ensure transpa rency in the application of their 
trade and related policies. As we heard this morning, the three delegations have already 
committed to updating their notifications.  
13.8.  Members appreciated the responses provided by the delegations of Qatar, Bahrain and 
Oman a nd looked forward to the answers to outstanding questions no later than one month after 
this meeting.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  13.9.  Overall Members were very pleased with the strategies that were under way in each country 
as outlined in Qatar Vision 2030, Bahrain Vision 2030, and Oman Vision 2040, as well as the 
manner in which open trade and investment regimes formed part of these strategies, as this would 
allow them to develop and further reduce dependencies on one commodity group. It was 
important to not lose sight of these medium - and long -term goals while at the same time keeping 
markets open, promoting business development, further liberalizing investment regimes, providing 
adequate intellectual property protections, and encouraging a more level playing field in the 
economy between  state-owned entities and private entities, foreign or domestic, including through 
privatization. The numerous questions posed and the participation of a large number of 
delegations in this meeting reflects Members ' substantive interest in the trade polici es and 
practices of Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. I believe that this Review has given us a comprehensive 
update of the trade regimes of three GCC Members and paves the way for a successful joint review 
of all GCC countries in the WTO.  
13.10.   In closing, I would like to thank the three delegations, the discussant, WTO Member 
delegations, and the Secretariat for participating in this exercise. I would also like to thank the 
interpreters.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  14  ELECTION OF THE NEW CHAIRPERSON  
14.1.  As indicated in the order of the first day , we now  move to the election of the Chairperson for 
the TPRB for 2014. At its meeting on 14 March 2014 , the General Council noted the consensus on 
the slate of names of Chairpersons for WTO bodies, including Ambassador Mariam MD Salleh as 
the Chairperson of the T rade Policy Review Body.  
14.2.  Under its rules of procedure, the Trade Policy Review Body is invited to elect Ambassador 
Salleh as its Chairperson for 2014. I would like to suggest that Members of the TPRB confirm their 
support for the election of Ambassador Sal leh with a round of applause.  
14.3.  As outgoing Chair , I just intend to say one thing: this was a great experience. We have 
done a lot during 2013 , which was a particularly intense  year. We reviewed more than 
25 Members of the WTO and that is counting EU as one.   
14.4.  We did the appraisal for Bali , which was a very smooth appraisal for which I thank you. And, 
of course, we continued  the Monitoring on  Protectionism  done by the DG.  
14.5.  I would like to extend a very warm thank you to all the delegations because one thing tha t 
struck  me in this C ommittee is the very good collaboration between Members , even when we were 
dealing with rather sensitive issues.  
14.6.  I have one final personal conclusion , including a plea  to you as Members and that it is not 
related to Mariam because I am  sure you will support her. I think the success of the TPRB is 
fundamentally dependent on the Secretariat, its competence , and its excellent analysis. It i s a fact 
that perhaps it is not entirely recognized in the WTO in general. But for the TPRB it is abundantly 
clear that this Body would not work at all without the enormous efforts done by the Secretariat to 
provide excellent analysis.  
14.7.  In my view, the Secretariat is doing a remarkable job in the area of TPR , sustaining a very 
good basis for an interaction  between Members where we can make our own conclusions and learn 
from each other.  
14.8.  I would also like to encourage Members to reflect a little upon whether the unique lesson in 
the manner in which we rely on the Secretariat of the TPR could be something we can experience 
in other Bodies. In most other b odies we, as Members, are very careful allowing the Secretariat 
even to provide an analysis upon which we will then have a basis for forming our position and 
forming our discussion. And the plea to you is to r eflect  upon your experiences in this Body as you 
enter into  debates in other WTO Committees on whether the Secretariat  has the right to look at an 
issue to provide a basis for analysis for our discussions.  
14.9.  I would like to sincerely thank everyone for an e xcellent collaboration during the last year 
and with that I pass the sign over to Mariam.  
H.E.  MS. MARIAM  MD SALLEH  
14.10.   Thank you Members for all the kind words, thank you to the honourable delegations of 
Qatar, Bahrain,  and Oman, and congratulations for  succe ssfully completing their R eview.  
14.11.   As Joakim has said, this M echanism is one of the pillars of the Organization , based 
principally on the need to ensure transparency and predictability of trade policies and practices of 
Members. As the Peer R eview and the Mo nitoring too, it helps Members  understand better each 
other 's policies , encouraging Members to undertake conscious efforts to carry out reforms to align 
its trade policies to the WTO rules and disciplines.  
14.12.   Ambassador Reiter, the dynamism and energy that yo u brought to your chairmanship is 
highly valued, particularly last year , which  was a particularly busy year with several milestones. 
You completed the Trade Policy Reviews of 25 Members , the Fifth Appraisal of the Trade Policy WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
WT/TPR/M/295 • Oman  
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  Review Mechanism that you bro ught to the Ministerial Conference in Bali , and the DG 's Report on 
Protectionism.  
14.13.   In terms of delivering results, you are unrivalled  compare d to other Chairs . I join you in 
fundamentally viewing that the Secretariat has done its utmost in terms of schedule d work , 
towards the preparation of next year 's Reviews and imp lementing the reviews this year.  They have 
been very supportive with regard to Malaysia 's TPR earlier this year and the Secretariat has 
worked tremendously hard with us to get it in on time as w e face challenges at home in getting 
enough inputs and the right responses from our agencies.  
14.14.   I therefore pledge my commitment to follow your footstep s, and these are very big shoes 
to follow . I will be very much dependent on the continuous support of the very capable Secretariat 
and I look forward to be working with all of you.  
REPUBLIC  OF KOREA  
14.15.   I would like to express my appreciation to the outgoing Chair and my welcome to the new 
Chair. I would like to join previous others speakers in welcoming you again , Chair, for your 
assignment  and, more importantly, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the 
outgoing Chair 's excellent  performances as Chair of this important Body of the WTO.  I will certainly 
take his message home and try to see how I can contribute to this performance in all the other 
WTO Bodies as well.  
NIGERIA  
14.16.   We are grateful for this opportunity to participate in this important Trade Policy Review. 
We wish to congratulate Oman, Bahrain and Qatar for their successful Trade Policy Review.  We 
also wish to thank the WTO Secretariat for the huge and excellent reports and the discussant for 
his insightful comments. Lastly, we wish to congratulate the Chair for the effective and efficient 
manner in which he conducted the reviews assigned. We al so wish to welcome the new Chair and 
to assure of our continued cooperation. We have taken note of the advice of the need to better use 
the Secretariat particularly in terms of analysis.  
OMAN  
14.17.   I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our outgoin g Chair for his excellent work , 
his team and I also would like to welcome our new Chair. I am personally pleased to see a woman 
chairing t his Body after quite some time and I wish you all the success.  
CHILE  
14.18.   Very briefly, I would simply like to express grat itude f or the work done by our former 
Chairperson, Joakim Reiter, and extend a welcome to Mariam MD Salleh, and wish her every 
success in the complicated and highly intensive task of chairing this important WTO body.  
JAPAN  
14.19.   We would like to echo the Members ' appreciation of H.E. Mr Joakim Reiter. T hanks to your 
excellent management o f the meetings by following the appropriate rules we have accumulated 
very successful and well -structured TPRs over the year. We recognize  that the Fifth Appraisal of 
the TPRM wa s achieved thanks to your leadership. We extend our sincere gratitude for your 
chairmanship. We also extend our warm welcome to her Excellency Ms. Mariam MD Salleh and we 
are very much looking forward to working with you and hope that we can continue fruit ful TPRs.  
TURKEY  
14.20.   We wish to welcome you and congratulate your chairmanship . We also want to express our 
strong appreciation for our outgoing Chair and his excellent job he has done last year.  WT/TPR/M/29 4 • Bahrain  
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  EUROPEAN  UNION  
14.21.   The EU would also like to take this opportunity t o express our appre ciation to the outgoing 
Chair  for his hard work over the last year and also welcome our new Chair . We look very much 
forward working with  you. 
MOROCCO  
14.22.   First of all, on behalf of my country, I want to express our sincere congratulations t o the 
three brother countries, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar, for their excellent Trade Policy Review. Let  me 
also thank  and congratulate our outgoing C hairperson, Ambassador Reiter, for his excellent work 
in this Committee;  and I would like to welcome the  new C hairperson and assure her of Morocco 's 
support in her work.  
SEPARATE  CUSTOMS  TERRITORY  OF TAIWAN,  PENGHU,  KINMEN  AND  MATSU  
14.23.   Chinese Taipei would like to welcome you and congratulate you on your new assignment. 
Chinese Taipei will pledge all the future coope ration with you. We would like to take this 
opportunity to express our highest appreciation to the outgoing Chair for his excellent leadership 
and hard work. We look forward to our continuing cooperation within the TPR process as we are 
going to have our third TPR review in this coming September.  
THE UNITED STATES  
14.24.   Let me join others in welcoming you to the chairmanship of this Body . We very much look 
forward working with you.  
EGYPT  
14.25.   We would also like to join other Members in thanking his Excellency Ambass ador Joakim  
Reiter , the outgoing Chair , for his excellent work . We also congratulate you , Madam Chair , and 
wish you a great success. Egypt would also like to take this opportunity to express our deep 
appreciation for the continuous hard work of the Secreta riat. 
CHINA  
14.26.   We would also like to join others to extend our thanks to the outgoing Chair, his Excellency 
Ambassador Joakim Reiter. We also take this opportunity to welcome her Excellency Ambassador 
Mariam Salleh and look forward working with you on  our Rev iew this year.  
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