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Kathmandu,Wednesday February 16, 2000 Fagun 04, 2056.
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Tamrakar urges better terms of
trade for LDCs Discusses trade issues with various countries
By a Post Reporter
KATHMANDU, Feb 15 - Addressing the UNCTAD-X
session, Ram Krishna Tamrakar, Minister of Commerce, urged the UN body to work for the
welfare of the Least Development Countries (LDCs).
UNCTAD should work for open market for all the
products of LDCs to get zero tariff, simpler rules of origin, GSP facilities and
relaxation of trade rules, said the Minister.
Discussing the negative impacts of globalization
and the need to correct its negative fall-outs, Tamrakar said, "Process of
globalization and liberalization have fallen short of the expectation. Instead of
accelerating growth and interdependence, these processes have widened income inequality
among countries. The flow of international capital, technology and trade are found uneven
which has led these countries to remain out of economic integration."
On the occasion, Minister Tamrakar also urged the
developed countries to extend a helping hand to the developing nations. "Export base
of LDCs is very weak and there are limited export products originating in LDCs.
Therefore, we urge the developed country partners
to provide duty free access to their market for all the products produced in LDCs,"
said the minister.
During the UNCTAD-X meeting in Bangkok, Thailand,
Minister Tamrakar also called on commerce ministers from various countries and discussed
issues of mutual interests on bilateral and international trade.
According to a press release issued here today by
the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Thailand, Minister Tamrakar called on Supachai Panichpakdi,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minster for Trade and requested him for easy access for Nepalese
goods to the Thai market. He also urged the Thai deputy premier for the early conclusion
of the bilateral trade agreement to facilitate the two-way trade. Besides, Minister
Tamrakar also urged Dr Supachai for more Thai investment especially in joint venture
projects, says the release.
Dr Supachai is tipped to replace present Director
General of World Trade Organization (WTO) Mike Moore sometime in 2002.
Minister Tamrakar also called on Commerce Ministers
from India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka and held discussions on mutual interests and
regional cooperation. Nepal, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are the members of the
seven-member SAARC forum, which is eyeing for South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) and
eventually emulate into European Union type Economic Union.
During his meeting with the Indian Trade Minister
Murasoli Moran, Minster Tamrakar stressed on the need to further promote bilateral trade.
He also urged his Indian counterpart to solve the practical difficulties involved in the
implementation of the trade and transit treaty signed between Nepal and India.
The Minister also requested Indian cooperation in
extending broad-gauge railway facility to Inland Container Depots constructed in
Biratnagar and Bhairahawa under the World Bank assisted multi-million Nepal Multi Modal
and Trade Facilitation Project. Integrated border management to upgrade the quality of
customs, police and immigration working in the border side was also very much in the
agenda of the meeting between the two trade ministers, states the release.
Similarly, Minster Tamrakar called on his
Bangladeshi counterpart Tofail Ahmed, and requested him to agree on the Transport Treaty
proposed by Nepal. He also urged Ahmed to grant tariff concession to Nepalese goods
exported to Bangladesh at least at a par with the concession offered to Bhutanese exports.
On the occasion, Bangladeshi Trade Minister Ahmed
said they were positive to Nepal’s demand but did not make any commitment outright.
Minister Tamrakar also called on Sri Lankan
Minister for Trade and Food and pointed out the importance of direct air link between the
two countries to promote trade and tourism.
According to the release, Minister Tamrakar is also
expected to call on Trade Ministers of China, Malaysia and United Kingdom during his stay
in Thailand.
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