WT/MIN(17)/ST/96  
 
4 January 2018  
(18-0060) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. HUMAYOON RA SAW  
MINISTER OF COMMERCE  AND INDUSTRIES   
AFGHANISTAN  
I am honoured to participate in the Eleventh Ministerial Conference of the World Trade 
Organization, where for the first time Afghanistan is participating as a full – fledged member of the 
WTO.  
 
On behalf of HE President Ghani and government of the Islami c Republic of Afghanistan, I take the 
privilege of offering my sincere gratitude and appreciation for your support in helping Afghanistan 
to become the WTO Member.  
 
The tenth Ministerial Conference in Nairobi was indeed a historic milestone in Afghanistan’ s 
aspiration to integrate into the multilateral trading system, and I am very hopeful that the 11th 
WTO ministerial conference will be another high point for all WTO members to add on the 
functioning, achievements and underscore the important role played b y this great institution.  
We understand the important role of our close cooperation with the WTO to catalyse 
implementation of the planned economic reforms in Afghanistan. Thus, to act on this realization, 
we have established our dedicated Permanent Missio n to the WTO in Geneva to optimally utilize 
our membership to the organization and also developed the WTO -Post Accession Strategy to 
accelerate the economic growth process in Afghanistan.  
 
Our views and aspirations are contained in the LDC ministerial Decl aration that we adopted on 9th 
December here in Buenos Aires. In addition, Afghanistan supports the ministerial declarations of 
the LLDC and g7+ WTO accession groups and call upon all members to transform them into 
concrete actions.   
 
Afghanistan is locat ed at the heart of the ancient Silk Route. It is in great position to link the 
markets of Cent ral Asia to South Asia and the Middle E ast as a transit and trade hub for further 
regional connectivity, trade facilitation and transit improvement. In this respe ct we have already 
taken some very remarkable steps by either initiating or completing a number of highly important 
regional connectivity projects.  
 
To achieve region wide socio -economic development, it is imperative to create a robust and 
conducive enviro nment for the private sector growth so that we create more jobs and new 
economic opportunities, alleviate poverty, and thereby contribute to peace and stability. Hence, 
the government of IR of Afghanistan is committed to reform the business climate to attr act 
investment and transform Afghanistan from an import dependent country to an exporting source. 
And, such vision could not be achieved without the technical and global credibility of the WTO.  
 
Before closing let me assure you that Afghanistan is in the p rocess of implementing all the post 
accession activities by a dedicated and dynamic team in our capital and as well as in Geneva. We 
will contribute to the mandate of the various technical Committees, Councils, and multilateral 
trade negotiations. In addit ion, we plan to play an active role in the LDC and LLDC Groups. The 
launch of g7 + WTO Accession group with the purpose of better structuring and strengthening our 
work to facilitate the integration of post -conflict and fragile economies into the multilate ral trading 
system through WTO accession is a historic milestone in this regard.  WT/MIN(17)/ST/96  
 
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  On behalf of g7+ WTO accession group we call upon all the trade ministers gathered in Buenos 
Aires to give positive consideration to the request of South Sudan to accede to WT O pursuant to 
Article XII of the WTO agreement at the WTO MC11.  
 
I sincerely wish this Ministerial Conference all the success it deserves, and hope what we 
accomplish today will further facilitate global trade in particular for LDCs and LLDCs.  
 
 
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