DHAKA: Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed MP had a meeting with Director General of World Trade Organization Roberto Azevedo Friday.
During the discussion with DG, WTO, they exchanged views on the outcome of the High Level Meeting on Service and progress in developing work programme for Doha Development Agenda.
Minister thanked DG¬ for taking initiative to convene high level meeting of the council for trade in services to enable the WTO members to indicate the sectors and modes of services where they intend to provide preferential treatment to LDCs.
He expressed his satisfaction with the positive response of a number of WTO members to the LDCs collective request.
He requested DG to monitor the notification process so that LDC service waiver is operationalized as outlined in the Bali Ministerial Decision.
He also mentioned that the meeting has raised the confidence among the LDCs about the possible operationalization of the waiver decision.
Commerce Minister assured the DG that Bangladesh will remain engaged with WTO membership to finalize the work programme by July 2015 and emphasized that Bali package on LDC including a time line for the implementation of the Duty Free Quota Free market access decision should get proper reflection in the works programme. He hoped that the WTO membership will overcome the current stalemate in the negotiations and conclude the Doha round. Director General of WTO assured that he will pay maximum attention to implement the decision on LDCs issues adopted in Bali Ministerial.
Commerce Minister also had a meeting with Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General of UNCTAD this morning. Welcoming the Minister, UNCTAD Secretary General highlighted some of their activities taken place in Bangladesh. He mentioned that UNCTAD will also provide technical support for the development of Pharmaceutical Industry.
Commerce Minister Mr. Tofail Ahmed, MP also met Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Minister of Uganda Ms. Amelia Anne Kyambadde. During the meeting Ministers shared their views about the outcome of High level meeting on Service and expressed their satisfaction for the positive outcome of the meeting.
It may be mention that in the high level meeting on Service many countries indicated their preferences for LDCs in the Service sector.
Commerce Minister emphasized that LDCs should work together to get benefit from the Member Countries. Ministers also agreed to work collectively for the extension of TRIPS Waiver in Pharmaceutical, which will be expired on 31 December, 2015.
Minister of Uganda informed that LDCs will work together for the extension of TRIPS waiver for the Pharmaceutical products. During the meeting Ugandan Minister also acknowledged the progress made by Bangladesh in all areas under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
BDST: 1544 HRS, FEB 07, 2015
