. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/86 
16 December 2005 
 (05-6079) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
MALTA 
 
Statement by the Honourable Censu Galea
 
Minister for Competitiveness and Communications  
   Like previous speakers before me I would like to extend the thanks and appreciation of my delegation to the Hong Kong Authorities for hosting the 6th WTO Ministerial Conference with such 
efficiency and professionalism and we wish them every success. 
  I would also like to take this opportunity to  warmly welcome Saudi Arabia and Tonga as 
Members of the WTO.   As has been highlighted  earlier this year by the Sutherland Report, "the creation of the WTO in 
1995 was the most dramatic adva nce in multilateralism since the inspired period of ins titution building 
of the late 1940s".   Since then the Organization has had to adapt ra pidly to the confluence of challenges created by 
rapid unprecedented globalizati on and interdependence.  The aspirations and pote ntial global benefits 
launched with the Doha Development Agenda in 2001, truly showed the rapidity with which the 
Organization has come of age and is today a focus of the attention of the world community.   As a founding Member of the WTO, Malta has always been a strong supporter of the 
multilateral trading system with the WTO providing a predictable, rules-based system.  Yet this is the first WTO Ministerial Conference where Malta is participating as also a member of the European Union. 
 
 Multilateralism, togeth er with the commitment to peace a nd cooperation, remains a fundamental 
principle of our external policy a nd central to our trading system. 
  This is why Malta is fully committed to th e achievement of substa ntive progress at this 
Ministerial Conference.  We will  work with others towards a successful conclusion of the Round. 
  Agriculture is a focal point of these negotiations;  Malta believes that the reform of the European Union's Common Agriculture Policy is not only one of Europe's major contributions to 
agriculture worldwide but, together  with Europe's offer to eliminat e export subsidies and to cut its 
import tariffs, is a valid demonstr ation of the European Union's willi ngness to register progress in this 
field.   There are, of course, other im portant areas where liberalization could reap fruits in economic 
terms.  We need a balanced deal – a deal compos ed of ambitious results also in areas such as 
non-agriculture market access and services liberalization.  Market  access for industrial goods clearly 
stimulates economic growth and interdependence continues to increase the share of services in national 
economies. WT/MIN(05)/ST/86 
Page 2  
 
  One other area which could provide significant tradi ng benefits is that of tr ade facilitation.  Like 
the EU, Malta is looking to improve existing WT O rules that would simplify, standardize and 
modernize import, export and trans it procedures, in particular custom s procedures to the benefit of 
companies and governments.  Improved  rules would make a significant c ontribution to help put trade at 
the service of development.  These rules would prom ote transparency, cut red tape and help economies 
grow. 
  However, let us not forget that development re mains at the heart of the Doha Round.  Malta, 
like other members of the European Union, believes that development remains an integral part of any agreement.  At the recent Commonwealth Heads of  Government Meeting in Malta in November, the 
53 Heads of State and Government urged for flexibility and a sense of urgency in the Doha Round 
negotiations.  We believe that this is a crucial el ement of our discussions and negotiations here in 
Hong Kong if we want this Confer ence to become "a beachhead" prio r to the agreement on modalities 
sometime in early 2006.  
 The needs of the poorest countries, particularly those of LDCs must be kept in mind.  This is 
we emphasize the EU proposal for an agreem ent on a self-standing development package in 
Hong Kong.  This should include aid for trade, more  flexibilities fo r the poorer countries and assurances 
that all developed countries pr ovide duty free and quota free access to products from LDCs. 
  In concluding let me once again underline Malta's commitment to work towards a successful 
Conference, where substantive progress is made lead ing to an early conclusion of the Doha Round. 
  A successful outcome will clearly boost the world' s economy, will generate political confidence 
and can be an important contribution to the fight against poverty.  
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