ESCAP MEETING TO DISCUSS ACCESSION TO WTO FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES OF THE REGION

BANGKOK (United Nations Information Services)--Trade officials will meet at a United Nations seminar to discuss ways of facilitating accession to the WTO of those countries that have applied for WTO membership.

The recent accession of China to the WTO was a historic event that attracted much attention. However, at the same time, one should not lose sight of the fact that more than 20 Asian and Pacific developing countries are not yet members. Furthermore, no LDC from any part of the world has acceded to WTO, although some have been trying for almost a decade. Yet, membership in the WTO is an essential first step if the marginalization of the poorest countries is to be reversed.

The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is convening the Regional Seminar on Facilitating the Accession of ESCAP Developing Countries to WTO from 18-21 February 2002 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

The main objectives of the Seminar are to review the WTO accession process, exchange country views and share experiences. Many of the problems countries have experienced in acceding to WTO are similar. Therefore, there is scope for facilitating the process through closer cooperation among countries. Furthermore, the ESCAP region contains a rich diversity of country experiences that can be tapped in order to facilitate this process. For example, Mongolia, despite being a landlocked country, acceded to WTO recently.

Ambassador Stuart Harbinson, Permanent Representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China to the WTO and Chairman of the WTO General Council will deliver a special address on the Doha Outcome, the Development Agenda and Implications for Developing Countries of the ESCAP Region, at the Regional Seminar on Tuesday, 19 February 2002 from 8:30 - 10: 30 am at Conference Room A, 1st Level of the UNCC.

Ambassador Harbinson is also Chairman of the Working Party on Tonga's accession.

NOTE TO EDITOR: You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend the Regional Seminar. Those who are interested in interviewing Ambassador Harbinson or any of the seminar's participants/resource persons, please kindly contact UNIS by Monday, 18 February 2002 for arranging an appointment.

******