WT/MIN(15)/ST/105  
6 January 2016  
(16-0086)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. DR TAWFIG ALRABIAH 
MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY 
KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA 
Alssalamu alaikum wa rahmatu Allah wa barakatuh 
 It is with great pleasure that I extend warm gr eetings to all the participants in the tenth WTO 
Ministerial Conference. 
 
On behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to our 
hosts
; the Government and people of Kenya, for their kind hospitality and for the excellent 
arrangements for this Ministerial Conference.  We also thank the Director-General, Roberto 
Azevêdo and all Members of the WTO secretariat fo r the work and continuous efforts made since 
our last Ministerial Session.  
 At this very important stage in the history of the multilateral trading system, what is challenging is 
not only the lack of progress in the negotiation pr ocesses, but the uncertainty of the future of the 
Doha Round and the  implications of this for the credibility and future of the WTO as a negotiating 
forum.   
 
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as an active member of G20 and WTO, remains committed to 
supporting and strengthening the Multilateral tr ading system, and our commitment to a successful 
conclusion of the Doha Development Round and the importance of our WTO regular work remains, regardless of the difficulties that may lie ahead. 
 
The completion of the Doha Development Agenda w ill not only secure a fair share for developing 
countries, especially the least-developed ones, in  the growth of world trade, but will also 
accelerate the achievement of some important Sustainable Development Goals related to trade.  
 
This year marks the 20
th anniversary of the WTO and Saudi Arabia’s 10th anniversary of its 
accession to WTO, for which we are grateful, pleased and proud. The Saudi economy has 
benefitted and will continue to benefit from the WTO membership. In this regard, The Kingdom of 
Saudi Arabia believes that priority should be given to improve and facilitate the accession process to the WTO with fair conditions for developing countries and LDCs, including the Arab countries 
and members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation who are still negotiating the terms of 
their accessions.   I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Seychelles and Kazakhstan for their accessions 
to the WTO and welcome the accession of Afghanistan and Liberia.  
 In addition, Saudi Arabia welcomes the participation of Palestine in this ministerial conference and 
calls on Members to seriously consider the observer-ship status requested by all intergovernmental 
organizations, including the League of Arab States to the WTO.   
Given the fact that 13 Arab States are members and 7 other States are observers in the WTO, 
Saudi Arabia believes that recognizing Arabic as an official language of the WTO would reinforce the participation of governments of these Arab States and would encourage raising the awareness 
about the multilateral trading system in the Arab region. 
 WT/MIN(15)/ST/105 
 
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  Finally, I am here to reassure you that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will maintain its firm 
commitment to the multilateral trading system and stands ready to provide all possible support to reach a positive outcome at this Ministerial Conference, and we look forward to a positive and fruitful conference. 
 
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