World Trade Organization conference opens in Kenya
The ministerial conference, which is the first ever on African soil, is expected to approve accession of two new member countries, Liberia and Afghanistan
By Magdalene Mukami
NAIROBI, Kenya
The first World Trade Organization’s ministerial conference on African soil has begun in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
Addressing the 10th ministerial conference Tuesday, Kenyan Foreign Affairs Minister Amina Mohammed said: “Being the first time that it is being held on African soil, the ministerial conference must be successful; it must be successful for Africa, it must be successful for development and for all members and the global economy”.
Amina said that the World Trade Organization was at a crossroads; she said that trade Ministers face a choice, whether to reinvigorate the negotiating function of the organization and work to progress with issues of interest to all members or have a status which has plagued the Doha negotiations for the past 15 years.
The core issues under negotiations as part of the Doha round, especially agriculture played a fundamental role in many of the world’s economies; Amina reiterated that all the issues will be fully addressed.
Roberto Carvalho de Azevedo, director-general of the World Trade Organization, said that the “historic meeting” comes at a time when Africa was on the rise.
“Africa’s economy is the fastest growing at an unmatched speed; trade has a crucial role to play in helping to realize that potential,” Carvalho said.
“We have been working very had since the Doha round negotiations and some issues have been quite difficult to tackle and progress was impossible; however, we come to Nairobi still hopeful that in some areas we may find a way to conclude important negotiations that will help the cause of delivery for Africa and help the development and progress efforts in Africa,” he said.
The accession of two new member countries, Liberia and Afghanistan, in World Trade Organization is expected to be approved at the conference. Members will also work on advancing the environmental goods agreement; also the ministers will also talk about the expansion of a trillion dollars information technology agreement.
