SEE
ALSO:
press
releases
WTO
news
Mike
Moore's speeches
Renato
Ruggiero's speeches, 1995-99
|
Mr.
Moore said the nine members of the Common Market for
Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) who have formed the
free-trade area have exhibited leadership and courage
which should provide inspiration to governments around
the world.“This
agreement is a stepping stone toward greater development
and higher living standards for Africans. It represents a
vote of confidence in trade as an engine for growth and
development. Too much of the world is, at present,
focussed inward. These governments have shown the
importance of looking beyond one's borders for solutions
to the problems which plague many developing
countries,” Mr. Moore said.
Mr.
Moore said that trade liberalization at the regional
level consistent with WTO rules can strengthen the global
trading system by providing fresh ideas and by instilling
citizens with confidence in trade as a means not only of
economic development but also of building closer and
peaceful relations with neighbouring countries.
The
nine governments (Djibouti, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar,
Malawi, Mauritius, Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe) have
pledged to integrate their economies further by
permitting the free movement of skilled labour by 2004,
the free movement of people by 2014 and a currency union
by 2025.
The
Director-General said he looked forward to talking with
ministers from these countries when he travels to
Libreville, Gabon, 13-15 November for a meeting
of African trade ministers.
The meeting is being organized by the government of Gabon
with the co-operation of the WTO Secretariat. The purpose
of the upcoming meeting is twofold; to bring ministers
together for an exchange of views on the future work
programme of the trading system and to provide a series
of technical co-operation workshops for senior officials.
|
|
