Nepal & WTO
MINISTER for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mahesh
Acharya addressed the SAARC Commerce Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi the other day in
which he stressed the need for simplifying the procedures in order to ensure that the new
and aspiring nations from the least developed world could easily enter into the World
Trade Organisation (WTO). Minister Acharya led the Nepalese delegation in the New Delhi
conclave in which the raised the concern and problems in the trade and commerce of the
South Asian nations in general and Nepal in particular. The SAARC Commerce Ministers’
meeting was organised in New Delhi by the government of India in order to seek a common
and collective approach of South Asian countries in the forthcoming WTO conference to be
held in Doha of Qatar in November this year. Like other nations in South Asia, Nepal is
eagerly seeking entry into the global trade governing body. Against the background the
meeting to forge a common regional approach on WTO is definitely a timely and appropriate
step. Many developing countries in the world have found the existing conditions, criteria
and procedures for the entry into WTO difficult and complicated. Third World countries
have long been asking the World Trade Organisation to simply the procedures for the entry
into it so that many new members especially from the developing world can benefit.
Minister Acharya’s remarks not only reflected the position of Nepal but concern and
demands of all least developed countries in the world. In its bid to acquire membership of
WTO, Nepal has initiated several reforms in the trade and commerce sector to meet the
criteria for the entry into the world trade organisation. Although there are both pros and
cons of WTO membership, Nepal cannot remain isolated from the world trend. The entry into
WTO would definitely increase competitiveness of Nepalese industries and business and also
contribute to the growth and development of export. It is obvious that those who cannot
compete in the international market would naturally fail. In the beginning least developed
countries like Nepal would not be able to compete with the developed and more competitive
economies. As a result, small industries in the Third World nations may face problems in
the beginning. However, entry into the WTO would open up new opportunities and scope to
increase and expand export of Nepalese products. Thus, it is necessary to grab the
opportunities to be created by WTO.
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