WT/MIN(15)/ST/114  
6 January 2016  
(16-0102)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. DR ABEER ODEH 
MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY 
(Speaking as an Observer) 
PALESTINE  
This is the fifth time Palestine participates in a session of the Ministerial Conference as an ad hoc 
observer. It is our hope that our participation in future sessions will come as a result of our observership in the General Council.  
 
Palestine is a trading nation, and proud of it. Our market is open, and our economy is fairly liberal. We believe in trade as a win-win proposition; not only for consumers and producers, importers and 
exporters, but also a force for good when it comes to sustainable development, the protection of 
the environment, climate change mitigation and adaptation, gender equality, and – not least! – 
peace, stability and security. 
 
We also believe in the power of rules and the value of discipline. Palestine is already bound by many international trade rules through its bilateral and regional trade agreements. Many of their provisions integrate WTO disciplines. WTO is a good friend to us. 
 
Our producers, farmers, traders and service provider s are keen to see Palestine integrated into the 
Multilateral Trading System. There is no reason wh y their economy should stand apart. Palestine is 
not a special case. The WTO is about the facilitation of trade on the basis of agreed global disciplines. No trade-regulating government should remain outside of this system, which aspires to 
global coverage. 
 We are committed to our bilateral trade relations with partners and neighbours. But we are keen 
to diversify our trade in services, goods and ideas. Progressive integration into the Multilateral 
Trading System will provide a basis for putting ou r trade on a healthy, normal footing, avoiding 
artificial dependencies and imbalances. Observership– and at some point: accession – are logical 
priority objectives for the Palestinian government. This will be a win-win also for our bilateral 
partners.  Over the past years we have undertaken serious steps to develop a modern trade policy. We have 
established a National Export Strategy; we have established regulatory and negotiating capacity 
on trade; we have worked heavily on customs modernization and trade facilitation; and on intellectual property – to name just a few. Ef forts are under way to formulate a comprehensive 
trade policy and upgrade our National Quality Infrastructure. But there is more to be done.  
 What we need now is to establish Observership in  the General Council, and send a signal that we 
are serious in our efforts to ensure predictability of rights and obligations for our businesses not 
only in our market but also in your markets.  Let me be very clear: Palestine’s interest in the WTO is genuine, profound and driven by economic 
considerations. We want to be part of the rules-based global trade system, nothing more, nothing 
less, because this is good fo r us and for everyone else.  WT/MIN(15)/ST/114 
 
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  At times when values are shaken, people flee their countries, and destructive ideologies reign 
supreme, in my region more than elsewhere, we need to provide hope and the prospect of sheer 
normality to our young generation. The WTO can play an important role in this.  
Let me conclude by extending my government’s congratulations to Liberia and Afghanistan for 
their accession. Their success is an inspiration to all of us still outside the WTO.  
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