accessions
WTO membership: Anniversary events
Anniversary events provide an opportunity to commemorate milestone anniversaries for WTO members that have joined the organization since the WTO was established in 1995. These events help to shed light on a member's integration into the multilateral trading system and the global economy. Events held to mark WTO membership anniversaries are highlighted below.
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11:30-11:45
High-Level Opening Session
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, WTO
- H.E. Mr. Chenggang Li, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China to the WTO
News: WTO, ITC reflect on five years of Liberia’s WTO membership
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Emerged from the civil war and the Ebola crisis, Liberia presented a unique case in the accessions of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to the WTO by activating and finalising its process within a short period. Liberia became the 163rd Member of the WTO on 14 July 2016. This case, known by some as "Liberian model", comprised of key ingredients including strong political commitment to accession-related reforms at the highest level of the government, intensive engagement by WTO Members in the accession process, and extensive technical assistance and support provided by development partners and the WTO Secretariat.
This session will reflect on the first five years of Liberia's WTO membership, including the impact of WTO accession on Liberia's economy and the remaining challenges facing Liberia as a post-conflict LDC. It will also provide a platform for an exchange of views with WTO Members and development partners on the way forward, with a view to reaping the full benefits from Liberia's participation in the WTO.
Moderator:
- Ms. Maika Oshikawa, Director, Accessions Division, WTO
13h00 – 13h25
High-Level Opening:
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, WTO
Statement - Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, ITC
Statement - Hon. Ms. Mawine G. Diggs, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Liberia
Statement
13h25 – 13h30
Video Message:
13h30 – 14h00
Presentation of Study: "Liberia: A Retrospective on Five Years of WTO Membership"
Commentator:
- Mr. Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator for Liberia's accession to the WTO
Statement
14h00 – 14h30
Interventions by development partners & Discussion on Way Forward
News: Event marks 5 years of Afghanistan’s WTO membership
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Afghanistan is the latest addition to the WTO family which became the 164th Member of the Organization on 29 July 2016, following 12 years of accession negotiations. Despite the serious capacity constrains faced by Afghanistan as a fragile and conflict-affected least-developed country (LDC), it has demonstrated exceptional commitment to integration in the multilateral trading system and global economy and set a high standard for LDCs participation in the WTO.
This 5-year anniversary provides for a timely opportunity to reflect on the results of the first years of Afghanistan's WTO membership, assess the impact of WTO accession and the remaining challenges, including those recently caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to exchange views with WTO Members and development partners on the way ahead, with the objective to maximize benefits from Afghanistan's participation in the WTO.
Moderator:
- Ms. Maika Oshikawa, Director, Accessions Division, WTO
13h00 – 13h30
High-Level opening:
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Director-General, WTO
Statement - Mr. Sulaiman Bin Shah, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan
Statement - Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, ITC
13h30 – 14h00
Presentation of an Accession Impact Study: "Afghanistan: A Retrospective on Five Years of WTO Membership"
- Mr. Patrick Low, former Chief Economist, WTO
Statement - H.E. Mr. Sayed Ramin Ziwary, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the WTO
Statement
14h00 – 14h30
Interventions by development partners & Discussion on Way Forward
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