. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/MIN(11)/ST/42 
16 December 2011  
 
(11-6595) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Eighth Session Geneva, 15 - 17 December 2011 Original: English 
 
  
KUWAIT 
 
Statement by H.E. Dr Amani Bouresli 
Minister of Commerce and Industry 
  
On behalf of the Government of the State of Kuwait, I would first of all like to extend my 
warmest thanks to the Swiss Confederation for its welcome and to commend the excellent 
arrangements made for this meeting in cooperation with the WTO Secretariat. 
 
Allow me to congratulate and welcome the new Members;  Montenegro, 
the Russian Federation, Samoa, and Vanuatu for th eir accession to the WTO.  Their Membership will 
indeed contribute positively to the multilateral trad ing system.  This accession sends a strong message 
about the importance of the multilateral trading syst em and about the vital role WTO plays globally. 
 
This meeting comes at a very difficult time for all Members in the light of the ongoing global 
financial and economic crisis, described the Dir ector-General, Mr Pascal Lamy, as the worst since 
World War II.  However, we believe that the mission and role of the WTO has increased in 
importance especially for the developing and LDCs as a result of the financial crisis.  And despite the 
global economic crisis the evidence strongly supports th at some nations have reaped the benefits of 
their Membership of WTO such as realizing higher economic growth rates, robust export growth and 
welfare gains.  
The global crisis should be viewed as a cha llenge and should be dealt with positively.  
As described by observers;  crisis carries some hidden opportunities.  Therefore, upon dealing with 
outstanding issues we need to change our approach. 
 
The Member States are aware of how important this Conference would be in providing 
a platform for dialogue, and assessing progress and outstanding difficulties that WTO integrated system has faced in the area of Doha Deve lopment Agenda negotiations, implementation of 
agreements, dispute settlement, monitoring and surv eillance, capacity building, accessions, trade and 
development, and other activities.  
In this regard, I call upon WTO Members not to save any effort to move forward the 
Doha Round, which can give the necessary im petus to address the present global economic 
challenges. 
 
I also believe it is important to strengt hen the other regular bodies and surveillance 
mechanisms of the Organization, in particular  the Committee on Trade and Development, which 
should continue to be the focal point and coordinator of all deve lopment related activities in WTO, 
including the Regional Trade Agreement under Enabling Clause. 
 WT/MIN(11)/ST/42 
Page 2  
 
  We regret that two Members of this Organiza tion continue to block consensus concerning the 
observer request of the League of Arab States.  This action undermines ot herwise unanimous support 
for the request and is inconsistent with the WT O's rules and guidelines.  We hope that the 
two Members would reconsider their position to a llow all qualified IGOs to participate in the 
WTO's activities. 
 
The Arab States reaffirm the importance of the introduction of Arabic as an official language 
at the WTO to enhance the participation of their governments, business communities and civil societies in the multilateral trading system and in WTO.  
The State of Kuwait supports the African and Arab proposal on WTO future work programme 
to mitigate the impact of the food market pri ces and volatility on least developed countries and 
Net Food Importing Countries.  
It also welcomes the Draft Decision on LDC Accessions and urges its adoption at this 
Conference. 
 
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