Govt urged to ensure stronger leadership in WTO negotiations
Sunday, 13 September 2009
EquityBD, a forum of NGOs and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Saturday urged the government to ensure the country's stronger leadership in the WTO negotiations, reports UNB.
The government should form a Least Developed Country Party (LDCP) in the forthcoming WTO Ministerial scheduled to be held in Geneva in December this year, they told a press conference at the National Press Club.
Ahmed Swapan Mahmud of VOICE, Mostafa Kamal Akand and Sayed Aminul Haque of EquityBd, among others, attended the conference.
EquityBd convener Rezaul Karim Chowdhury made a presentation on the major issues and outcome of Delhi Mini Ministerial of the WTO, moderated by its general secretary Shamsuddoha.
He raised concern over the role of Commerce Ministry and the country' s WTO mission in Geneva, saying that they have failed to put forward national interest in the recently concluded WTO mini-ministerial in Delhi during 3-4 September 2009.
EquityBD proposed strengthening the Geneva mission with strong analytical and negotiation capacities, coordination between Ministries of Commerce and Foreign Affairs as well as civil society organizations and discussion on bilateral and multilateral trade issues and trade negotiation modalities in parliament.
EquityBD said the group of low development countries (LDCs) did not raise the issue of movement of natural person under mode-4 in the mini-ministerial due to lack of co-ordination among the LDCs. Bangladesh put forward the issue in the last WTO Ministerial Meetings in Cancun and Hong Kong.
The LDCs Ministers agreed in Delhi to conclude Doha round negotiation by 2010 and a roadmap will be outlined in the 14th September meeting to be held in Geneva.
The government should form a Least Developed Country Party (LDCP) in the forthcoming WTO Ministerial scheduled to be held in Geneva in December this year, they told a press conference at the National Press Club.
Ahmed Swapan Mahmud of VOICE, Mostafa Kamal Akand and Sayed Aminul Haque of EquityBd, among others, attended the conference.
EquityBd convener Rezaul Karim Chowdhury made a presentation on the major issues and outcome of Delhi Mini Ministerial of the WTO, moderated by its general secretary Shamsuddoha.
He raised concern over the role of Commerce Ministry and the country' s WTO mission in Geneva, saying that they have failed to put forward national interest in the recently concluded WTO mini-ministerial in Delhi during 3-4 September 2009.
EquityBD proposed strengthening the Geneva mission with strong analytical and negotiation capacities, coordination between Ministries of Commerce and Foreign Affairs as well as civil society organizations and discussion on bilateral and multilateral trade issues and trade negotiation modalities in parliament.
EquityBD said the group of low development countries (LDCs) did not raise the issue of movement of natural person under mode-4 in the mini-ministerial due to lack of co-ordination among the LDCs. Bangladesh put forward the issue in the last WTO Ministerial Meetings in Cancun and Hong Kong.
The LDCs Ministers agreed in Delhi to conclude Doha round negotiation by 2010 and a roadmap will be outlined in the 14th September meeting to be held in Geneva.