. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/MIN(11)/ST/68 
17 December 2011  
 
(11-6641) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Eighth Session Geneva, 15 - 17 December 2011 Original:   English 
 
  
MOZAMBIQUE 
 
Statement by H.E. Mr Kenneth Viagem Marizane 
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade 
 
  At outset, I would like to congratulate you, Mr President, upon your election to preside over this Eighth Session of WTO Ministerial Conference.  We are confident that under your wise 
leadership and professional skill our deliberations w ill be crowned with consensus outcomes that will 
allow us to continue to build up our Organization's legitimacy and credibility. 
 
I would also like to commend the organizers and all those who contributed for the holding of 
the Conference and for the excellent conditions placed at our disposal.  
In Mozambique the large majority rely essentially  on agriculture.  This is the reason why we 
adamantly believe that the immediate conclusion of the negotiations of the Doha Round, including its 
development dimension, would be the best appr oach in addressing the least developed countries' 
issues of concern under the multilateral trade systems.  
Mozambique would like to join its voice to previous speakers in recognizing and reaffirming 
the wisdom and relevance of proceeding with the trade negotiation process within the framework of 
the existing multilateral trade system.  
In our view it is imperative and morally so und for negotiations to take into account the 
importance of addressing the issue of market access by the developing countries, particularly the 
LDCs. 
 
We are well aware of the impact of the current global crisis on our economies.  Equally, we 
are all mindful of the fact that countries like Mozam bique have been unable to take full advantage of 
the existing arrangements aimed at enhancing interna tional market access, due to their limited supply 
capacity. 
 
In this perspective, we wish to reiterate our appeal to our development partners to endeavour 
to renew their pledged commitments to provide a dditional resources to Aid for Trade, with emphasis 
to trade-related infrastructure and to productive capacity upgrading. 
 
We strongly believe that WTO should continue to commit itself to providing assistance for 
developing countries, the LDCs in particular, with a view to facilitate their integration into the 
multilateral trading system.  To this regard, WTO should aim to support more integrated initiatives on 
trade and capacity building.  These undertakings  should be among the main priorities of the 
WTO future activities in order to ensure the integration of LDCs in the global economy. 
 WT/MIN(11)/ST/68 
Page 2  
 
  Some countries continue to apply measures that  are restrictive to trade by implementing 
policies aimed at increasing tariffs, and the institution of new non-tariff barriers.  
In fact, some of the measures seemingly designed to stimulate economies contain provisions 
that favour and protect domestic goods and services at the expense of international trade.  
Consequently, this approach will lead to undesirable trade chilling effect. 
 
Nevertheless, opening the inte rnational markets alone cannot be construed as the only 
solution to the global economic crisis.  Therefore, le t us endeavour to concl ude without farther delay 
the Doha Round negotiations for it will set conducive environment to alleviate the consequences of 
the current crisis which affronts the world today. 
 
Mozambique remains determined to cooperate a nd engage constructively with the rest of the 
membership towards a successful conclusion of th e Doha Development Agenda (DDA) as soon as 
possible. 
 
Let us show our peoples that our Organization is on the right track, and that we have the 
possibility of accomplishing the objectives set forth, if we are commit to the uplifting of the wellbeing 
of all our peoples.  
Indeed, the WTO should continue to shoulder its mission, play its role, and preserve its 
responsibility in contributing to the economic grow th, development and pove rty alleviation through 
trade.  
On behalf of the Government of Mozambique I wish to take this opportunity to welcome in 
our midst Montenegro, the Russian Federation, Sa moa and Vanuatu, following their accession to the 
WTO. 
 
I conclude, let me express my delegations full endorsement to the statement made by 
distinguished representative of Kenya, on behalf of Africa, by the distinguished representative of 
Mauritius, on behalf of ACP, and by the distinguished representative of Bangladesh, on behalf of the 
least developed countries. 
 
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