Media releases
Wednesday 30 October 2002 - MVT141/2002
Sydney Informal trade Minister's Meeting to Focus on Developing
Country Issues
Sydney Olympic Park will be the venue for the informal meeting of
trade ministers on 15 November, Trade Minister Mark Vaile announced
today.
"This meeting is an important opportunity for an informal discussion
of key issues on the Doha Development Agenda. It will bring together
trade ministers from 25 countries. Collectively these countries account
for some 80 per cent of world trade, and also about 80 per cent of
Australias exports," Mr Vaile said.
Mr Vaile said he was particularly pleased with the response to his
invitation from developing countries.
"Seventeen of the twenty five countries attending are developing
countries. Their presence will ensure this meeting can give close
attention to their interests.
"Close engagement with developing countries is a priority for Australia.
We share many of their perspectives on the need for fundamental reform
of world agricultural trade. We want to work with developing countries
in Sydney to help address other issues of importance to them such
as access to medicines to meet genuine health crises.
"Our initiative last week to provide tariff and quota free access
for least developed countries sets a new benchmark and I will be encouraging
other developed countries to match this," Mr Vaile said.
Mr Vaile emphasised that this was a very important but informal meeting
of trade ministers with no decision-making role.
"This meeting is not a formal meeting of the WTO. It is an informal
meeting of ministers to facilitate a better understanding of a number
of important issues being discussed as part of the Doha Development
Agenda. "
Mr Vaile said that he is aware of interest within various groups
of the community in the WTO, including its impact on developing countries.
"I will be providing an opportunity for a number of NGO representatives
to share their views with ministers," Mr Vaile said.
"I am confident that the hotel selected, the Novotel, will be very
suitable for the occasion," Mr Vaile said.
Media Contact: Robyn Bain +61 02 6277 7420
Local Date:
Sunday, 06-Jul-2008 15:18:49 EST
