. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/169 
17 December 2005 
 (05-6185) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   French 
 
  
COMOROS 
 
Statement by HE Mr Maoulana Charif
 
Minister of State, Minister of Economy, Trade, Industry and  
Employment  
 
(Speaking as an Observer) 
 
 
 On behalf of the delegation of Comoros a nd on my own behalf, I should like to begin by 
expressing sincere thanks to the authorities of Hong Kong, China for the warm and brotherly welcome 
extended to us since our arrival in this beautiful city of Hong Kong.   I also take this opportunity once again to congr atulate Mr Pascal Lamy on his appointment to 
the office of Director-General of the WTO. 
  I am confident that his receptiveness, skill a nd long experience will give fresh impetus to 
these negotiations.  
 I should like to thank the WTO Secretariat fo r the preparations and arrangements undertaken 
to provide us with good conditions for our work.   To you, Madam Chairperson, I extend my wa rmest congratulations on your election to chair 
our proceedings.  
 After a long and difficult national reconciliation process, the Union of the Comoros has 
recently completed establishment of its institutions.   Today, thanks to the willing of all Comorans  and the support of the international community, 
we now have a reunified country with  institutions that are up and running. 
 
 The success of the Comoros Donors' Conference held in Mauritius last week bears witness to 
the commitment and resolve of the internati onal community to accompany Comoros in its 
development and reconstruction efforts.  
 As a member of several regional organi zations and groupings, including COMESA, the 
Indian Ocean Commission, the Organization of the Islamic Conference and the ACP Group, my country is working, through these organizations, for the liberalization of trade.   To this end, Comoros has recently undertaken a number of economic and structural reforms 
whereby, in agreement with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, it will substantially 
improve its framework of  laws and regulations. 
 WT/MIN(05)/ST/169 
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 The Union of the Comoros has just establishe d a growth and poverty reduction strategy to 
serve as a framework of reference fo r economic and social development. 
  Agriculture and trade development have an im portant place in this framework and we hope to 
be able to draw maximum benefit from the adva ntages that the Doha Development Agenda will 
afford. 
  The Doha Round, also known as the Development Round, has generated many hopes in our countries by enabling our needs and expectations to be taken into consideration for the first time. 
 
 I take this opportunity to reiterate my country's  resolve to accede to the WTO, and I hope that 
in future accession procedures will be more favourable.   I should like, in this context, to congratulate the Kingdoms of Saudi Arabia and Tonga on their accession to the World Trade Organization. 
 
 The accession of the Kingdom of Tonga, which, like Comoros, is a small island country with 
a vulnerable economy, has bolstered our determin ation to join the multilateral trading system. 
  We believe that trade is a major vector of economic growth.  Comoros is accordingly 
following closely the effective implementation of th e Integrated Framework programme so that it may 
benefit as soon as possible from technical assistance th at will facilitate the integration of its economy 
into world trade and its accession to this important Organization.   In conclusion, I hope that Hong Kong will suc ceed in giving fresh impetus to the Doha 
negotiating process so that an agreement can be reached on the development dimension of trade. 
 
 I hope that all stakeholders in this Conference will show wisdom, in the interests of reaching a 
comprehensive agreement that is acceptable to all.  
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