. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/171 
17 December 2005 
 (05-6188) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   French 
 
  
CAPE VERDE 
 
Statement by HE Mr Francisco Moreira Correia
 
Counsellor to the Minister, Ministry of Economy, Growth and  
Competitiveness  
 
(Speaking as an Observer) 
  
 His Excellency the Minister of the Economy, Growth and Competitiveness of the Republic of Cape Verde, who is unable to attend for technical  reasons, presents to you through me his sincere 
excuses for his involuntary absence at our meeting, of which, however, he also feels a part.  He hopes that this Ministerial Conference will be a complete  success.  Furthermore, he would also like to 
express: 
 
 -  To the authorities of Hong Kong, China, his thanks for the excellent facilities made 
available to the Cape Verde delegation and for the hospitality that it has received; 
  - to the Ministers, his appreciation for their constructive attitude in the pursuit of the 
objectives of this Conference, bearing in mind the aim of the promoting the 
production and distribution of  goods and services of the WTO Members in general 
and of the less privileged Members in particular; 
  - to Mr Pascal Lamy, his sincere congratula tions for his appointment to the head of the 
WTO, and to his staff who have made this Conference possible. 
 
 The Republic of Cape of Verde is an archipel ago with an area of almost 4,033 sq. kms. and 
with 440,000 inhabitants.  It is a net importer sin ce the coverage of its imports by exports has never 
exceeded 6 per cent.  This situation needs to be reversed and exports promoted with a view to 
achieving a favourable trade balance in the future. 
 
 The country plans therefore to develop not only the production and internal distribution of goods and services but also a skilled workfo rce, technology, science and culture. 
  Trade cannot exist without production.  Con sequently, Cape Verde strongly believes in 
development, but within a framework of equitable participation and with equality of opportunities for 
all, both foreigners and nationals.     It is undeniable that the Republic of Cape Verde now has an open economy and a 
participatory democracy founded on human rights and the rights of peoples and based on tolerance 
and peace, and on security for both nationals and foreigners and for their property. 
 
 The accession of Cape Verde to the WTO must not slow down its development, but rather contribute to faster growth in its economy.  Th e conditions required by the WTO Members in such WT/MIN(05)/ST/171 
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 circumstances must take into account  the real economic situation of the country and the rules of the 
WTO applicable to the least developed countries.   The sovereign rights and full equality of the 
accession candidates must be recognized in the negotia tions.  The interests of some must not eclipse 
the interests of others so as to exclude them from consideration of a subject under debate that is of 
interest to them. 
 
 Clearly, nowadays, no country can survive on the margins of multilateral trade even if it has a 
liberal economy.  The Republic of Cape Verde is aw are of that and believes with all its heart and 
mind in multilateral trade as defined in the WTO ru les.  As a small, vulne rable and under privileged 
country, it needs, at the time of accession and afterw ards, sustained assistance in order to fully comply 
with the WTO rules and procedures. 
  It is for this reason that I am requesting, on behalf of His Excellency the Minister of the 
Economy, Growth and Competitiveness, that this Mi nisterial Conference should include the Republic 
of Cape Verde among the candidates to receive the assistance promised, in particular, by the United 
States and Japan, or any other assistan ce offered by other WTO Members. 
  Cape Verde's commitment to the WTO objectives is  clear proof of its strong determination to 
accede.  The Republic of Cape Verde wishes to be nefit from special and differential treatment and 
from any other facility available to the least developed countries.  
 That is the reason why Cape Verde is a candi date for accession to the WTO with the hope that 
it will soon be granted.     This also presents me with an opportunity  to congratulate the new WTO Members on their 
accession.   
 
 Once again, I should like to take this opport unity to thank the Hong Kong, China authorities 
and the WTO Secretariat for having given the Repub lic of Cape Verde the opportunity to take the 
floor here.  On behalf of His Excellency the Minister  I hope that the work of this Conference will be 
fully successful.  
 It is my wish that the hopes raised in D oha will be realized, especially for the LDCs. 
 
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