Posted in:
Business & Economy
Written By: Faisal Darem
Article Date: Mar 22, 2008 - 5:12:20 AM
Yemeni market receives worldwide products due to trade facilitation.
Trade facilitation leads to attracting and increasing investment opportunities and reducing unemployment, and as a result it forms an important development factor for all countries whether already developed or in the process of developing, said Dr. Yahya al-Mutawakel, Minister of Industry and Trade, during the launch of a workshop held last week. The workshop dealt with the national self-assessment of needs and priorities of trade facilitation in the framework of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and was organized by the Coordination and Communication office in cooperation with the WTO.
Al-Mutawakel said that the key to obtaining benefits of open trade is to facilitate exchange of goods between countries which are considered focal points for achieving economic growth. “The facilitation of trade depends upon removing all obstacles that stand in the way of trade between countries as well as long-run reform, including updating legislation and rehabilitation of concerned governmental authorities, in addition to improving new forms of cooperation and trust between stakeholders in the public and private sectors, as well as obtaining required funds for investment in human resources and technology,” al- Mutawakel said.
He added that, “Some applications of information and communication in support of modern customs procedures require great effort at the national and international levels in order to be learned. This mission highlighted the role of international organizations to provide technical support, capacity building and support reform programs.”
Menah Rushdie, head of Economic Affairs at the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) organization, said, “We will work with participants on the preparation of a national self-assessment in the area of trade facilitation, to promote discussion and provide advice and clarification. This clarification is in light of negotiations which evolved under the Doha Round for Development and the self-evaluation experiences of the eleven developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.”
The workshop facilitated a self-evaluation of Yemen’s needs and priorities and provided support through technical assistance and capacity-building in trade facilitation to strengthen Yemen’s ability to accommodate economic changes. This support will address the obstacles to the expansion and facilitation of trade between Yemen and its trading partners in the framework of the GATT organization.
Rushdie congratulated Yemeni experts on the progress achieved in the negotiations accomplishing full membership in the organization and their active participation in the negotiations of the Doha Development Round, especially in the area of trade facilitation.
Around 40 participants attended the workshop representing related governmental and non-governmental organizations.
