WT/MIN(17)/ST/126  
8 January  2018 
(18-0116) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original:  French  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E.  MR BENAOUDA HAMEL  
AMBASSADOR  
ALGERIA  
(Speaking as an Observer)  
I would first of all like to  convey my delegation's  congratulat ions to  H.E. Minister Susana Malco rra 
on her election as Chair  of this distinguished gathering  and to thank the Government and people of 
Argentina for their warm hospitality  and the excellent organization of this important event.  
The Algerian delegation also extends its thanks to the Director -Genera l, the General Council Chair  
and all WTO Members and Observers  for their efforts to ensure pos itive outcomes at this 
Eleventh  Conference in the interests  of the multilateral trading system and those  of the 
Membership as a whole.  
Underpinning the sluggish global economy are the feeble pace of global investment , dwindling 
world trade growth and high levels of debt . Low commodity prices have exacerbated these  factors 
in many commodity -exporting countries  since mid -2014. This situatio n has adversely impacted the 
external balances of these countries.  
Despite these difficult circumstances, Algeria is vigorously and resolutely set ting about the task of 
implementing  a new economic model, aimed, among other objectives , at achieving sustaine d 
non-hydrocarbon GDP growth  of 6.5 % per year between 2020 and 2030 , by giving priority to 
investment in high value -added sectors such as renewables, agro -industry, services and the digital 
economy.  
Given the uncertainties affecting today's global economy,  Algeria wishes to underscore the 
centrality of the multilateral trading system, the importance of the WTO and its key role in 
establishing a transparent and inclusive trad ing environment for development and full integration 
of the economies of developing countries in the world economy.  
Such integration is not only about  effective implementation of the various ministerial decisions and 
declarations adopted by the WTO in favour of development but also about the need to facilitate the 
accession to the Organization  of countries , 21 of which currently are, and some have been for 
some years now, undergoing the accession process.  
Algeria reiterates its determination to pursue its accession process and achieve the country's 
integration in the multilateral tr ading system under the best possible conditions and as rapidly  as 
possible.  
It does, however, share the concerns of acceding countries as regards  the obstacles and 
challenge s in achieving this objective . The accession process is lengthy and demanding and 
requires candidates to make significant  commitments  that go  beyond their levels of development 
and the WTO rules.  WT/MIN(17)/ST/126  
- 2 - 
  Algeria therefore urges WTO Members to establish accession rules and criteria in order to put an 
end to the asymmetric structure of accession p rocess es and requests for concessions going beyond 
those undertaken by  the Member s themselves, including the most developed among them . 
It also calls for strengthening technical assistance and capacity building programmes for acceding 
countries before, dur ing and after their accession.  
While wishing this Conference every success, Algeria hopes that the concerns of acceding countries 
will be given the attention  they deserve from WTO Members during the meeting and beyond MC11.  
 
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