WT/MIN(13)/ST/114  
12 February 2014  
(14-0840)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Ninth Session 
Bali, 3-6 December 2013  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY HON. RISHAD BATHIUDEEN 
MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE 
SRI LANKA 
I take much pleasure in joining you all at the Ninth Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference in 
the exotic island of Bali. At the very outset, I would like to convey my sincere thanks to the government of Indonesia, in particular, Hon. Gita  Irawan Wirjawan, the Minister of Trade and his 
team for the excellent logistics and the great hospit ality they have been extending to us since our 
arrival.   
 The Ninth Ministerial is taking place at a very decisive juncture, as the global economy continues 
to move in a slow gear, taking much longer-than-expected to recover from the 2008 financial 
crisis.  The sluggish growth has already posed serious policy challenges for all of us. The increasing figures of unemployment and the economic hard ships in many parts of the world signal a 
disturbing trend.  Downsizing its own forecast a few months ago, the IMF now predicts only 3.6% 
growth for 2014. Unfortunately, the LDCs and small and vulnerable economies are destined to suffer the most.    
In recognition of the fact that the resource-poor, developing countries constitute the majority of 
the WTO Membership, the Ministers, who gathered for the launch of the Doha Round in 2001, reiterated that “development” should be the cent ral theme of the Doha Work Programme.  Sadly, 
the Round has produced only marginal benefits for the developing nations even after 12 long 
years.  
Sri Lanka is a developing country with a small and vulnerable economy, which depends heavily on 
a few overseas markets and a handful exports such as apparel and tea.  Ironically, most of these 
products are subject to high tariffs and tariff peaks in our main markets and this has seriously eroded our competitiveness vis-à-vis other foreign suppliers. On top of this, the Sri Lankan 
economy had fallen victim to nearly three decade s of terrorism, which ended only in 2009.  With 
the dawn of peace and stability, the country has turned a new page in its history.  However, the post-conflict Sri Lanka now faces the formidable challenge of reconstruction of its infrastructure 
and rebuilding of its economy. 
 Against this backdrop, we looked forward to a successful outcome at the MC-9 in Bali. We sincerely 
hoped that the MC-9 would unblock the DDA impasse and pave the way for an early resumption of 
negotiations on a comprehensive post-Bali agenda. However, it now seems that the intended Bali-deliverables are still not within our reach. It is really sad that the Members, even after so much of efforts and consultations in Geneva, which went over many sleepless nights, including week-ends, 
could not pull the final strings together.  
 Nevertheless, I wish to take this opportunity to convey the most sincere appreciations of the 
government of Sri Lanka to His Excellency Robert o Azevêdo, Director General of the WTO for all 
his hard work and the excellent leadership.  We are highly impressed with his knowledge, impartiality and the all-inclusive approach. We have no doubt that he did his best in exploring 
every possible avenue to make the Bali deliverabl es a reality.  Director General, Sri Lanka is 
deeply grateful to you and your wonderful team at the WTO for all what you did during the negotiating process.    WT/MIN(13)/ST/114 
 
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  Although we could not clinch the expected package in Bali, we really should not be disheartened. 
I n s t e a d ,  w e  h a v e  t o  b e  p o s i t i v e .  “ T h e  g l a s s  i s  h a l f  f u l l ” .   W e  h a v e  a c h i e v e d  a  c o m m e n d a b l e  progress compared to a few months ago.  As a matte r of fact, we are in the vicinity of a deal and 
we should never let go this opportunity. Let’s take a long, hard look at all the contentious issues, 
which stood in our way, and be resolute with a stronger political determination, so that we sure 
can bridge the very little gap, which is left between us.     
Being a strong advocate of free trade, Sri Lanka fully supports the proposed agreement on Trade 
Facilitation.  However, as a small and vulnerable economy, we look forward to some capacity building assistance by our development partners, before we can undertake certain commitments in this agreement.  
 
Sri Lanka recognizes the importance of the G-33 proposal, which seeks to support public 
stockholding programmes that ensure food securi ty for millions of people, who live in many 
developing and least developed countries.  Similarly, we are of the firm view that the Members 
should find a mutually satisfactory solution to the G-20 proposals, which involve Export Competition and Tariff Rate Quota Administration.  We are also pleased that the Members have 
reached a great deal of consensus on the S & D Monitoring Mechanism and the LDC package. Of 
course, there is some more work to be done.  An early convergence on these proposals will pave the way for us to expedite comprehensive negoti ations on the rest of the DDA. We are deeply 
concerned that some of the most important areas such as NAMA and agriculture have been on hold 
for too long. 
 In order to facilitate effective integration of developing economies into the multilateral trading 
system with equitable benefits, it is critical that all DDA negotiations continue to remain 
development-focused.  Enhanced flows of Aid-for-Trade, value-added S&D provisions, effective LDC and SVE Work Programmes etc., would certainly make a meaningful contribution in this 
direction.    
 An early outcome on the intended Bali package is an imperative in restoring the credibility of both the WTO and the multilateral trading system it leads. Erosion of confidence in the WTO will 
seriously polarise the Member interests with irreversible consequences for the entire global 
community.  I am sure that no Memb er wants to suffer such a destiny. 
 
Before I conclude, let me inform the distinguished delegates that the Group of 15, which brings 
together a Summit Level Group of 17 developing co untries and currently chaired by Sri Lanka, also 
takes a keen interest in the global trade agenda, which is advanced under the WTO disciplines.  
The Group, therefore, calls for a fresh impetus at the MC-9 for an early conclusion of the DDA 
Negotiations, keeping the “development” dimension at its heart.  I wish the Bali deliberations every success. 
 
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