WT/MIN(13)/ST/6  
4 December 2013  
(13-6634)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Ninth Session 
Bali, 3-6 December 2013  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. OLUSEGUN AGANGA  
HONORABLE MINISTER OF INDU STRY, TRADE AND INVESTMENT 
NIGERIA  
I wish, on behalf of the Nigerian delegation to commend the Chairman of the 9th Ministerial 
Conference, Minister Gita Wirjawan; the Director -General of the WTO, Mr. Roberto Azevêdo; and 
his dedicated team for the extraordinary efforts that have been made to invigorate and guide the negotiations, in a transparent and inclusive manner, and more importantly, for the remarkable 
progress, which serves as inspiration and encouragement to Members. I also commend the Chair 
of the General Council, Ambassador Shahid BASH IR for the supportive role and guidance 
throughout the preparatory arrangements for the Conference. None of these would have been 
possible without the flexibility, commitment and leadership shown by you, the Members of the 
WTO. I wish to thank Indonesia, in particular, for the hospitality and facilities at our disposal. I wish to also thank the Chairpersons of the various subsidiary bodies for the comprehensive reports 
on the activities of the WTO since the last session of the Conference in 2011.  
 At the outset, I would like to endorse the Declarat ions by the AU Ministers of Trade; the ACP; 
LDCs; Informal Group of Developing Countries; the G-20; and the G-33. This journey started at 
MC8, which I had the honour and privilege to chair, where we acknowledged the reality that not all 
the elements of the Doha Round could be co ncluded simultaneously; and therefore committed 
ourselves to advance negotiations where progress could be achieved, with a view to reaching 
agreement on those elements on a provisional basis; including the Bali package.  
 The challenge we face today calls for renewed commitment and deeper collaboration as a matter 
of urgency. In a world of increasing economic interconnections, the challenges facing us are great, 
but so are the opportunities. Nigeria also shares the view that this Ministeria l Conference is taking 
place in the context of a challenging and dyna mic global economic environment, which has 
brought about significant challenges to national economies and governments, given the fact that 
the world economies are moving at different pace. However, we are happy to note that, despite 
these difficult circumstances, that the leadership  at the WTO has achieved tangible results and 
exceeded our expectation; now is the time for Mini sters, based on the MC8 mandate, to help reach 
c o n v e r g e n c e  h e r e  a t  M C 9 .  T h a t  i s  t h e  r e a s o n  w h y  N i g e r i a  i s  f u l l y  s u p p o r t i v e  o f  h a v i n g  a  B a l i  
package (that is development –oriented; or very soon after Bali, should the situation arise). It is also Nigeria's expectation that this Conference would provide the necessary political guidance and 
direction towards the successful conclusion of  the Doha Round and the future of the WTO. 
 These expectations are based on the belief that it is mostly those policies, which allow economies to remain open to trade and investment that are capable of promoting economic recovery and 
sustainable growth.  Indeed, available empirical evid ence shows that it is generally those countries 
which have significantly liberalised and achieved a greater level of integration into the global economy that are usually associated with successful development experience.  
 
Taking into account this reality, Nigeria is deeply concerned that the Doha Round, which was launched as "development" Round with a view to, inter alia, addressing the imbalances in the 
existing Agreements, boosting international trade and global economic growth, as well as 
facilitating the successful integration of developing countries into the global economy, remains inconclusive after more than twelve years of ne gotiations. Nigeria stands ready and willing to 
support any effort necessary to achieve a positive outcome on a single package on trade WT/MIN(13)/ST/6 
 
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  facilitation, agriculture, development and LDCs issues, bearing in mind that Bali’s success is vital 
for the future of the multilateral trading system.  It is on the basis of the foregoing that Nigeria would like to encourage Members, especially the 
major players, who are in a position to help reach convergence, to continue to demonstrate the 
required leadership by exercising the requisite flexibilities that will ensure that we collectively overcome the present impasse. Furthermore, Nige ria is happy to note that the rule-based 
multilateral trading system embodied in the WTO provides stability and predictability in 
international relations, and therefore encourages  Members to recommit themselves to addressing 
the specific challenges and situation of the LDCs, Small and Vulnerable, the NFIDC, the low-income countries, the small island countries, the land-locked and the C-4 countries, among others.   
 
Nigeria is pleased to note that, in spite of the prevailing challenges, MC9 has been able to take 
some important decisions on TRIPS non-violation and situation complaints; E-Commerce; SVEs 
work programme; extension of transition period for LDCs under Article 66.1 of the TRIPS 
Agreement; the LDC services waiver; and the accession of Yemen. On this note, Nigeria would like to welcome Yemen to the WTO family and hope its membership would be beneficial to the 
multilateral trading system. 
 Since the last Ministerial Conference, Nigeri a has continued the efforts to implement a 
comprehensive reform agenda to further transform the country and the economy under the able 
leadership of Mr. President, which is why for the second year running, Nigeria is the 
no.1destination for investment in Africa, and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. It has also been working proactively to improve th e economy by creating conducive environment for 
doing business. The Government has taken necessary steps to diversify the productive base away 
from over reliance on oil as the mainstay of th e economy, by encouraging the development of the 
non-oil sector. The various efforts and reform put in place to restructure the economy have started 
yielding results. Trade and development policy has been assigned a very critical role in the 
NV 20:2020, and the subsequent implementation pl ans. In that regard, Nigeria is reviewing its 
existing trade policy framework, in order to fully take advantage of its participation in international trade at both multilateral and regional levels. Nigeria would welcome and appreciate support and 
assistance from development partners, in order to sustain the trade capacity necessary to meet 
our international obligations, as well as achieve our development objectives. This support is indispensable given the implementation challenges  arising from the commitment associated with 
the Trade Facilitation Agreement. As a result, Nigeria wishes to call for increased collaboration 
between the WTO and other international organisations, with a view to ensuring coherence in economic policy-making. 
 
In conclusion, let me reaffirm Nigeria's commitment to the objectives and principles of the multilateral trading system, and assure that Nigeria will work assiduously with all Members in the pursuit of our shared goals. We fully support th e statements made by Morroco on behalf of the 
Afr ic a G roup ; J amaic a on b e half of the  ACP , N e p al on b e half o f the  L DCs  and  Burkina F as o on 
behalf of the C4.  
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