WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/65 
15 December 2005 
 (05-6050) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
BAHRAIN 
 
Statement by HE Dr Hassan Fakhro
 
Minister of Industry and Commerce  
   Let me at the outset  take this opportunity to extend the greetings of His Majesty the King, the 
Government and People of Bahrain to his Excelle ncy Mr Donald Tsang, the Chief Executive of 
Hong Kong, China, and its Government and people.  I would also like to express our sincere 
appreciation to Mr John Tsang, for the excellence of this Conference, the warm reception and kind 
hospitality with which we have been received.   Managing such an important event and bringing  it to a satisfactory conclusion is not easy, but 
we have every confidence, that the Chairman and the Director-General will be more than up to the 
task. 
  If I may reiterate what has already been mentioned only too often that our message should affirm our commitment to the fundamental issu es governing the Multilateral Trade System, to 
eliminate trade distortions, if you will, within th e overall framework of WTO, a total commitment to 
the Ministerial text setting the stage for the succe ssful conclusion of the D oha Development Round by 
2006.   Despite the fact that the Kingdom of Bahrain is small in size, I trust it has left some positive footprints, globally, in various aspects of political, economic and trade endeavors.  It is a founding 
Member of the WTO and a strong implementer of lib eralized, transparent and open almost tariff free, 
global trade, a fair Multilateral Trading System, if yo u like.  A country that has virtually removed all 
trade barriers and installed many freedoms in place,  in many ways be them modest, not unlike this 
great city, resulting in definite benefits in nego tiations of major trade agreements.  Bahrain looks 
beyond any short-term prospects and accepts the ch allenges and the opportunities inherent in such a 
free global trade system. 
 
 The result of Bahrain's active participation in the Trade Negotiations Committee (TNC) is 
evident by the positive proposals it has offered in diffe rent areas, especially in the field of services 
and in particular financial services, to which Bahrai n attaches great importance, and also in fields of 
construction, transportation, and tourism. 
 
 As regards agriculture, we welcome the bold in itiatives proposed in the text, and we hope that 
the outcome will effectively protect all interests in this complex situation, at the same time allowing 
developing and net food importing countries, like Bahrain, and many other countries the appropriate 
development support mechanisms, for the live lihood of rural and agriculture sectors. 
 
 As far as Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAM A) is concerned, we do welcome a fair and 
balanced tariff reduction formula, and proposals th at allow developing countries to adopt policies and WT/MIN(05)/ST/65 
Page 2  
 
 undertake projects that are economically viable, in  accordance with the principles of Special and 
Differential Treatment for developing countries.   The prompt implementation of the outstanding issues and the removal of any concerns are 
not only necessary for achieving the Doha Devel opment Agenda, but essential, for ensuring the 
support, fairness and impartiality of WTO towards developing countries' needs and interests. 
  As I mentioned earlier, Bahrain adopted an open- market policy, and this policy has resulted in 
it becoming a regional financial centre for internati onal trade and investments.  We consider trade 
facilitation a priority. 
 
 It is a pleasure to note that there are some thirty WTO observer status countries, including many developing countries.  We would like to affirm our support for the speedy accession of the 
qualified countries to the membership of the WTO to  ensure universality.  In this respect, we would 
like to extend our congratulations to the Kingdom of  Saudi Arabia and Tonga.  Saudi Arabia has 
travelled a long and arduous journey started in 1993 , and has shown a firm determination in reaching 
this milestone.  It is a notable economy, and country , its presence in the WTO is a definite plus.  We 
wish her every success.  Its accession w ill reinforce the capability of our region to work pos itively 
with others in a more meaningful and lasting way.   Each participant stands to gain from an am bitious WTO deal that reduces trade distorting 
from subsidies, tariff cuts and boosts global economic growth, stop dumping surplus commodities on 
world markets.   Gathering some 150 Ministers together is not n ecessarily conducive to agreement, but it must 
not be the end. 
 
 Success does not require a spectacular win, rath er demands an outcome that motivates all 
present nations to work harder in 2006, take political risks for the good of the world.  I trust they are 
up to the challenge.   In conclusion, I would like to reiterate our thanks and appreciation to the Government and 
people of Hong Kong, China for hosting this spect acular World Conference in this marvellous  and 
unique city.  I most certainly would like to thank the Director-General of the WTO, Mr Pascal Lamy, his staff and all participating delegations for  their contribution in making this 
Conference, and I trust, the rest of your deliberations a success.   WT/MIN(05)/ST/65 
 Page 3 
 
 
 ANNEX 
 
Bahrain's Technical Cooperation Requirements 
 Background
 
 
 Bahrain's founding membership of the WTO as well as its active participation in the Doha 
Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations  reflects its profound belief in the International Financial and 
Multilateral Trading Systems.  
 Its active participation in the TNC, and va rious negotiating groups, is evidenced by the 
positive offers and proposals submitted to different ar eas of the negotiations, especially in the field of 
services, to which Bahrain attaches special importance, in particular financial services, tourism, and construction.  
 In addition, Bahrain is seriously engaged in other major aspects of the Doha Work 
Programme, including agriculture, NAMA, services,  WTO rules, trade facilitation, development 
issues and 'aid for trade'.   At the same time Bahrain has parallel and c oncurrent engagement in regional, inter-regional 
and bilateral trade liberalization a nd economic integration endeavors.  Such a wide arena includes, but 
is not limited to, GCC countries, other Arab Countries, the US-FTA and the EU Association 
Agreements.   Such intensive and ambitious undertakings by a small island nation like Bahrain represents a 
strenuous burden on its technical, legislative and trade capacity structure. 
 
 Yet, Bahrain is most conscious of the burden s and challenges facing it and is ready to extend 
its efforts further for fulfilling its national, regi onal, and international development agenda, trade 
liberalization, economic reform, and for achieving its liberal, and expansive trade, economic and 
investment policy objectives.  
 The economic challenges and financial sacrifices entailed in such adjustment processes are 
obvious before us and all our development partners.  Their heavy trade and fiscal impact is also easy to project.   Present and potential challenges are directly or t acitly inherent in the following areas;  loss of 
government revenues, textile market displacement af ter quota elimination, tariff preference's erosion, 
trade related vulnerabilities, net food importing uncertainties, spillover aspects of trade policies of other countries.   Accordingly, Bahrain is in great need for technical cooperation resources, for establishing and improving trade supply chain infrastructure and logistics, technical, and legislative adjustment 
requirements, standards and conformity implications, human resources development (HRD), 
information and communication technology (ITC), and trade capacity-building.   Moreover, we need to establish our trade and export promotion institutions, such as Export Promotion Center, International Trade Point, and E-Commerce Network. 
 
 We are also hopeful to ensure Bahrain's e ligibility for appropriately benefiting from the 
Aid for Trade, and Integrated Framework Programs,  especially for cross-country, and adjustment 
needs.   WT/MIN(05)/ST/65 
Page 4  
 
  We are sure that these trade developmenta l institutions and programmes would rally an 
operational synergy, through the c oordination and complementarities, within the competencies of the 
world's most reputable finance and trade institutio ns, such as:  WTO, ITC, UNCTAD, WB, IMF, and 
UNDP.  
__________