WORLD TRADE WT/MIN(96)/ST/88
11December 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-5263)
Original: English MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Singapore, 9-13December 1996
SURINAME
Statement byH.E. Mr.Ewald C.Leeflang
Ambassador, Permanent Representative ofSuriname totheWTO
Allow metojointheother delegations byexpressing myappreciation totheGovernment of
Singapore forthehosting ofthisimportant event andthefacilities extended tous.
WTO isestablished asauniversal system toliberalize global tradethrough theimplementation
ofinternationally agreed andaccepted rules andobligations.
Suriname committed itself tointegrate itseconomy inthenewglobal system.
Tothisendourcountryisengagedintheprocessofadjustingitsinstitutionalandlegalframework
tothenewreality.
Wehavetoadmit,however,thatthisendeavourcannottakeplaceovernightbutrequiressufficient
timeandinput ofskilled manpower amongst other things.
Weareaware thatWTO istaking those factsfullyintoaccount anddohopethatitssystem
oftechnical assistance willprove tobestrongly supportive hereby.
Inorder toappreciate fullytheopportunities which theemerging global trading environment
isoffering totheeconomy ofdeveloping countries, itremains important nottodiscard themany
challenges wearefacing now.
With regard tothefinancial services wehave toacknowledge thatthedifferent financial
institutions inourcountry arestillinaprocess ofstrengthening theirdomestic capacity tocopewith
liberalization. Assistance tobecome competitive ontheinternational market isnecessary. Special
attention should begiven hereby tothefactofgrowing technological development inthisarea,which
canmake thecompetitiveness ofthedomestic financial institutions illusive. Thesame istrueinthe
areaoftelecommunication.
There isagreatneedforfurther study toestablish thenecessary legislation toprevent negative
social andeconomic implications hereby.
Inaccordance withtheWTO Treaty ontheProtection ofIntellectual Property Rights, an
arrangement hadbeenmade concerning theprotection ofspecial plant varieties byMember countries
through apatent system.
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Fordeveloping countries likeSuriname itisimportant toderive thebenefits fromtheirnatural
resources.
Todothisinaresponsible wayitisofgreat importance toestablish cooperation agreement,
tothatendinorder toexercise adequate control toprevent theillegal export of,amongst other things,
genetic material from special plant varieties.
ThefullimplementationofTRIPSAgreementrequirestimetostrengthentheinstitutionalcapacity
ofthecountry.
Withregardtotradeandlabourstandardswesharetheviewexpressedbymanyotherdelegations
thatlabour standards mustbedealtwithin theframework oftheILOastheadequately competent body
todealwithissues ofthisnature.
Mydelegation recognizes therelevance ofthenewissues, suchastradeandinvestment, trade
andcompetition policy.
Sufficient timeisneeded toanalyse thecomplexity ofthose issues inorder tobetter understand
theirimpact ontheglobal economy.
Suriname hasintheareaofgovernment procurement verystrictrulesforpublic tendering which
guarantee ahighdegree ofobjectivity andneutrality. Wetherefore welcome theestablishment ofa
working group tostudy anddevelop multilateral tendering rules andguidelines.
Suriname isamember ofCARICOM andtheACP group ofcountries. Weconsider our
membership ofbothbodies essential forourintegration within theglobal economy.
Themarket access totheEUandtherelated trade references under theLomé Convention are
forusindispensable opportunities tomake oureconomy viable andcompetitive inthefuture.
Weconsider those provisions asimportant instruments inassisting ourcountries tobecome
fullpartners intheinternational community.