WT/MIN(15)/ST/3  
17 December 2015  
(15-6692)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR SULTAN BIN RASHID AL-KHATER 
UNDERSECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY OF ECONOMY AND COMMERCE 
QATAR 
Let me begin by expressing my deep appreciation to the Government and People of the Republic of 
Kenya for their hospitality and efforts in hosting the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in this beautiful city of Nairobi.  
I would also like to take this opportunity to warmly welcome Newly Acceded Members and their 
integration into the multilateral trading system . In this context, we especially welcome the 
accession of Liberia and Afghanistan. 
 
On the occasion of the 20
th anniversary of the WTO, I would like to recall the achievements made 
by this Organization in promoting multilateral trade and development; particularly the WTO’s 
biggest undertaking and achievement, that is, th e launch of Doha Development Agenda. I reaffirm 
my delegation’s commitment to a successful conclusion of the DDA. At a time when the global economic recovery is slowing and international markets are fragile, our Ministerial Declaration is an opportunity to send a message, here from Africa, that our countries are united in the conviction 
that expanding international trade enhances economic development for the benefit of all Members, 
especially the least developed among us.   
Although there has been differences amongst Member states’ positions throughout the DDA 
negotiations. It is against the spirit and objectives of the WTO to bury the DDA in Africa at this critical juncture. Furthermore, it places the integrity of this organization at risk. We, therefore, 
come to this beautiful continent with development at the core of our agenda. We need to not push 
red lines, in this regard, we encourage members to re-calibrate and reach convergence on positions in order to strengthen the multilateral trading system within the framework of the DDA.  
During the seventieth session of the UN Genera l Assembly, our leaders have decided on the 2030 
Agenda for Sustainable Development. Qatar is pleased to announce that our National Vision, also set out for 2030, is fully aligned with this Agenda. 
 
Sustainable development and climate change issues  are amongst our top global priorities. I refer 
specifically to the 13
th goal set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development whereby it 
urges action to combat climate change and its impacts. Therefore, we encourage members to 
intensify efforts with regards to trade and environment negotiations, and in this connection it is imperative that the WTO continue work on the environmental goods negotiations. 
 
Qatar has always been a proponent for an all-inclusive multilateral trading system. Thus, we 
believe the inclusion of the Arabic language would contribute to achieving this goal and help better integrate members of the Arab Group in this organization. 
 
With regard to Trade Facilitation, we have completed measures in-line with our category ‘A’ notification to modernize our transit infrastructure and with the inclusion of the customs single 
window in 2011 we are on track to develop and harmonize customs procedures to provide a fully 
transparent customs environment. Currently, we are at the final stages for ratifying the agreement and adopting the necessary related legal instruments.  WT/MIN(15)/ST/3 
 
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  As a small country, Qatar is highly dependent on foreign trade. We currently import over 90% of 
food to satisfy domestic consumption, which places us in a difficult position with regard to food security. For us, therefore, the expansion of fl exibilities for net-food importing developing 
countries is a priority with regard to future agriculture negotiations. 
 
We have the DDA mandate and we have the built-in flexibilities on the application of any packaged development outcomes we could reach in Nairobi within the broader framework of the DDA. There 
remains ambiguity towards what sort of outcome in Nairobi we are looking to achieve, however we 
believe that any outcome should be in line with  the DDA mandate and should be without prejudice 
to the single-undertaking principle. We would further like to take this opportunity to emphasize the need for flexibilities for LDCs, NFIDC’s, as well as, small and vulnerable economies in any feasible 
outcome we have here in Nairobi.  
 Nairobi presents us with a chance to reaffirm our commitments going forward with the Doha round 
while preserving the credibility of the WTO. 
 In that respect we are ready to intensify efforts to reach an outcome that allows us to regain 
traction towards the fulfillment of the DDA mandate and to preserve a functioning and inclusive 
multilateral trading system.  
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