. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(03)/ST/148
13 September 2003
(03-4916)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fifth Session
Cancún, 10 - 14 September 2003Original:  English
SAUDI ARABIA
Statement by H.E. Dr. Hashim A. Yamani
Minister of Commerce and Industry
(Speaking as an Observer)
It is a great honour for me to represent the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Fifth WTO
Ministerial Conference.  I would like to convey our sincere gratitude to the Government and the
people of Mexico for hosting this important Conference and for the warm welcome and gracious
hospitality extended to me and my delegation.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia strongly believes in the principles of the multilateral trading
system enshrined in the rule-based system of the WTO.  For many years, the Kingdom has followed
these principles in the formulation and conduct of its trade policies.  We have an open and liberal
trade regime which is integrated into the world economy to a degree unmatched by most countries.
In pursuance of this policy of openness and interdependence, the Kingdom has been actively
advancing its accession to the World Trade Organization.  At the highest level, the Government has
set the objective of completing the accession process in the shortest possible time, on reasonable andmutually advantageous terms.  We have made considerable progress by concluding a number of
bilateral market access agreements, including with some of our major trading partners.  Negotiations
with other trading partners are at an advanced stage.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is ready to compete in a globalized economy.  To prepare
itself, the Kingdom has substantially completed a major restructuring strategy and an economic
reform programme, the centre piece of which is the key role of the private sector in economic activity.
A number of new trade-related laws have been enacted, and more are in the pipeline.
Saudi Arabia has followed with keen intere st the negotiations under the Doha Development
Agenda.  We share the widespread perception of developing countries that the progress of
negotiations is not satisfactory where their interests have not occupied the center stage they deserve.
This perception needs to be removed by taking major decisions at this Conference so that the
negotiations result in increased opportunities and a greater share for developing countries in the
growth of world trade.  We, collectively, have a re sponsibility to ensure that the promises that were
made at Doha in November 2001 are translated into concrete results when the negotiations conclude
on 1 January 2005.
One of the important decisions this Conference should take is to accelerate the accession of
acceding countries, so that the WTO becomes a trul y universal organization embracing all the ideals
embodied in its charter.WT/MIN(03)/ST/148
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The WTO has emerged as one of the most important international economic organizations.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia fully supports its objectives, looks forward to acceding as a full
member so that we can work closely with other Memb ers to further strengthen the multilateral trading
system.
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