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Point of Intervention
Pointers for Interactive Dialogue on Economic Growth, Mr. Chairman, Allow me to intervene at this juncture to emphasize that both domestic and in particular external resources such as export revenues, FDI and ODA are of critical importance in stimulating economic growth and in tackling poverty and under-development. They are also essential in enabling the developing countries to implement sustainable development. Efforts to overcome the adverse impact of the recent financial crises and the continuing decline of commodity prices in the international market need to be undertaken by the international community. These efforts should include, among others, the mobilization of international cooperation to support development, combat poverty and redress under-development. For this purpose, supportive measures such as access to financial resources as well as access to and the transfer of technology should be implemented thereby enabling developing countries to address their basic needs including the provision of essential infrastructure. The international community should also double its efforts to ensure market access for the exports of the developing countries which would facilitate the flows of foreign direct investment as well as increase the current levels of overseas development assistance. Mr. Chairman, On the issue of trade and environment, I would like to underline that, during the balance of our discussions, the issues of greatest concern to developing countries particularly for strengthening the development dimension, should be adequately addressed. International cooperation on capacity building should be enhanced and integrated into development efforts as well as being driven by the needs of the recipient countries. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities should also be fully respected in this debate while at the same time unilateral actions to disguise trade restrictions or the application of trade-restrictive measures for non-trade purposes should be avoided while greater access to market for products from the developing countries should be promoted. The role of international organizations in undertaking studies as well as in strengthening research and institution building for the purpose of facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology should be promoted. This is particularly important for promoting product quality, developing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and for policy formulation and its implementation at the national level. Progress should also be made in identifying forms for the protection of traditional knowledge including options for mutual benefit sharing schemes involving close cooperation between WTO, WIPO, the CBD, FAO, UNEP and other relevant institutions. I would also like to underline the importance that we attach to the work of the Committee on Trade and Environment within the WTO and the need to support the continuation of their work. The dialogue between countries should be improved and cooperation between the secretariats of WTO, UNCTAD and UNEP in pursuing a balanced and transparent agenda on trade, environment and development should be strengthened. Mr. Chairman, On the role of foreign direct investment for sustainable development, I would like to take this opportunity to request the relevant multi-national companies to both facilitate the promotion of foreign direct investment (FDI) as well as promote environmental protection awareness in the developing countries. In support of this, the international community should continue to plays its crucial role in seeking to ensure the sustained growth of foreign direct investment to the developing countries and also to promote capacity building and the transfer of environment friendly technology to a larger number of developing countries that are in a good position to benefit from FDI. Thank you
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