WT/MIN(15)/ST/77
21 December 2015
(15-6806)  Page: 1/2
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: English
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. FAIYAZ KOYA 
MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY TRADE AND TOURISM 
FIJI 
Allow me to first thank you, and through you all Kenyans, for the warm welcome to this beautiful 
country. Kenya, with its mountains, and its beaches, feels very much like home.  I am making this statement on behalf of my own country, Fiji, and also the Pacific WTO Members. 
The Ministers of the Pacific WTO Group have circulated a statement for your consideration 
underscoring our priorities for this Conference and beyond.  
We had hoped that this would be the Ministerial Conference to deliver on the Doha Development 
Agenda. After 14 years of negotiations, we had hoped that there would be something to take back to our people in the Pacific to show them as a result of these negotiations, we have tangible 
benefits for our farmers, our fishermen, an d those who are struggling to convert their 
entrepreneurial potential into economic reality through trade. This hope still burns bright.  We also realise that we need to be realistic. From the 20 broad areas of work, and hundreds of 
specific issues within those, mandated under the Doha Development Agenda, very few have even 
been brought to this Ministerial Conference as potential outcomes. Of these, even fewer are of 
trade and developmental potential for Fiji and th e Pacific. I understand that there has been and 
continues to be opposition to the improvements to specific agreements on special and differential 
treatment applying to developing countries other than Least Developed Countries. I understand that a very limited and low ambition goal on disciplining the most egregious forms of fisheries 
subsidies is facing difficulties. I understand also that the recognition given to Small and Vulnerable 
Economies thus far in negotiations has been questioned.   These are our concerns. These are not the concerns  of the major players in the WTO. It is the 
Small and Vulnerable Economies, including those in the Pacific whose unique needs were 
highlighted at this year’s 5th Global Aid for Trade Review, who are at most risk of being left behind by the multilateral trading system. It is equally important that such economies, like that of Fiji and 
other Pacific Islands, are the economies that most need the protection of a strong, effective and 
functioning multilateral trading system.  This is particularly so in view of the proliferation of regional trade agreements which exclude us by and large, and wherein the bounds of WTO rules 
are often exceeded, beyond our capabilities.  
 Notwithstanding the difficulties that the DDA has faced Fiji and the Pacific WTO members are fully committed to the WTO and its negotiating function. Again, notwithstanding the capacity 
constraints and power differential that the Pacific faces in WTO negotiations and regular work, Fiji 
and the Pacific WTO Group is firm in its belief that only the WTO can provide a level playing field in decision making for trade rules.  In Fiji’s case, it  is a reflection of this commitment to the WTO that 
Fiji last year opened in Geneva, after many years of consideration, a fully-fledged Permanent 
Mission to the WTO.   
We do not trade for the sake of trade itself. In deed the very first preambular paragraph of the 
Marrakesh Agreement acknowledges that trade and economic relations should be conducted with a view to raising standards of living, and that posi tive efforts must be designed to ensure that 
developing countries secure a share of the growth in international trade commensurate with the 
needs of their economic development. We must work with these objectives in mind, not just for WT/MIN(15)/ST/77 
 
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  those who already have the trading might to matter in the world, but for those who have 
diminishing aspirations at remaining relevant.  Impediments to a development oriented outcome, albeit limited, is not insurmountable, at this 
historic ministerial meeting, the first in the Africa n continent. In Fiji we are able to achieve great 
things through our “bula spirit and smile”, and doin g all things the Pacific way. I am sure if we 
apply the same spirit, political will and goodwill to our conference, it will be successful and will 
result in beneficial outcomes to all. 
 
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