. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/MIN(11)/ST/67 
17 December 2011  
 
(11-6633) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Eighth Session Geneva, 15 - 17 December 2011 Original:   English 
 
  
MYANMAR 
 
Statement by H.E. Mr Win Myint 
Union Minister of Commerce 
   It is, indeed, a great honour to have an opportunity to deliver a brief statement in this Conference. 
 
 At the outset, on behalf of the delegation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, let me 
express our appreciation to the Government of Swit zerland and the city of Geneva for hosting this 
Eighth Session of the WTO Ministerial Conference.  We  would also like to thank the Chairman of the 
General Council, the Director-General and all his st aff at the WTO for their hard work in preparing 
for this event. 
 
 Before I proceed with my statement, I w ould like to cordially welcome the accession of 
new Members, the Russian Federation, Montenegro, Vanuatu and Samoa, to the WTO.  I would also 
like to express our support for the Lao People's Demo cratic Republic to become a member very soon. 
 
 Allow me to touch briefly on the current Doha Round of trade negotiations.  As mentioned by 
the previous speakers, Myanmar is also of the view that the most important trade policy instrument for 
promoting economic growth on a global scale is the rapid conclusion of the current 
Doha Development Round.  Myanmar wishes to express its gratitude to DG Pascal Lamy and the Chairs for their efforts in this regard, and looks forward to seeing a structured  and transparent working 
programme for continuing the negotiations.  Myan mar supports the goal of reaching a conclusion 
before the end of next year, 2012. 
  And I do believe that the present Ministerial Conference constitutes a great opportunity to reconfirm our political will to work together, in or der to strengthen the multilateral trade system, with 
a view to promoting sustainable development. 
 
 Agriculture is the mainstay of our economy.  Moreover, about 70 per cent of our population 
resides in rural areas relying on agriculture as their livelihood.   As you are aware, Myanmar, under the ne w government, has launched economic reform 
measures including those in the trade sector.  Theref ore, the trade sector is likely to become the 
leading sector of our economy, and " Aid for Trade " programmes are really needed for Myanmar to 
enhance productive capacity building and international competitiveness. 
  With respect to the area of intellectual prope rty rights, Myanmar welcomes the decision of the 
TRIPS Council for the extension of transiti on period for least developed countries. 
 WT/MIN(11)/ST/67 
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   The global financial crisis, the consequences of  climate change and the widening gap between 
the rich and poor are seriously affecting trade and economic situation of  developing countries.  
Therefore, it is urgently necessary to conclude  negotiation of the Doha Round with meaningful 
results.  We firmly believe that the conclusi on of the DDA negotiations will pave the way for 
overcoming the existing challenges we are facing today.   Therefore, I would like to call for all WTO 
Members to join hands and try our best for the conclusion of the DDA negotiations. 
  Now, I would like turn briefly to the foreign policy of my country.  The new government continues to pursue the independent, active and non-aligned foreign policy.  Myanmar is actively participating in the regional and in ternational organizations.  As a r esponsible country in the region as 
well as a member of ASEAN, Myanmar will take the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2014. 
  We are confident that Myanmar will be  able to accomplish the responsibility of 
ASEAN Chairmanship in 2014 with the encouragement and support of all our fellow ASEAN member States. 
 
 Let me conclude by saying that Myanmar rema ins fully committed to work with all other 
Members, to actively participate in the process of creating an equitable global trading system and of 
working towards a successful and timely conclusion of the DDA.  
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