Nepal has to do more homework before entering WTO: Experts

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Nov. 21: If the WTO membership is a compulsion for a least developed country (LDC) like Nepal, various facets of opportunities and challenges have to be assessed and the cost of risk should be minimised before entering into the world trade regime. Besides, areas of comparative advantages should be identified for developing competitive strength, said academics, policy makers and economists here today.

Dwelling upon various aspects of WTO membership at a national level seminar on 'Implication of WTO membership for Nepal,' after the fourth Ministerial Conference in Doha, they were of the view that a LDC like Nepal should be able to take more concessions through negotiation and dialogue. Becoming WTO (World Trade Organisation) member is not a big deal, but it should be able to reap as much benefit as it can, they noted. Nepal cannot remain aloof from the global practice and thus it should try to develop its own product and services in which it has comparative advantages, they asserted.

Speaking about WTO membership for Nepal, they strongly pointed out the need for formation and amendment of necessary laws that are related with export and import of goods and services. Experts on the occasion also raised the issue of intellectual property rights, agricultural products and quarantine of agricultural products. Besides, developing technical capabilities, negotiation skills at par with other developing and least developed countries were also stressed.

Addressing the programme Assistant Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Prakash Gurung expressed full commitment on behalf of His Majesty's Government for enhancing competitive strength in industries, agriculture and trade. Assistant Minister Gurung also underlined the need to enhance productivity to reap more benefit from the free trade regime.

Prachand Man Shrestha, Director at WTO Division at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply while speaking about development of Nepal's accession process in the Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, said that a lot of progress had been made for LDCs. Nepal as a LDC can take much benefit by relaxations given to the LDCs. Our priority is to protect our domestic interest and enhance our competitive strength which has to start with massive awareness with the country, Shrestha said adding that Nepal cannot remain isolated with global economic mainstream especially in the context of all the neighbours remaining with the WTO. Hence the government is focusing on 'accession' terms.

To reap benefits of trade liberalisation based on the WTO–regime we should have a clear vision for our future development strategy particularly focusing on overcoming supply bottlenecks, enhancing institutional capability and translating available opportunities into human advancements, said Alessandra Tisot, Resident Representative of UNDP. In the Post-Doha-Meet Discussion Rajendra Kumar Khetan, Second Vice President of FNCCI stressed that the government and private sector should develop a harmonious relations for maximization of benefits from the WTO. He also underlined the need to develop institutional capacity in both private and the government sectors. 'We still need a lot of homework,' he added.

Former Commerce Secretary and Director of Center for Public Policy Dialogue (CPPD) Mohan Dev Pant also stressed the need for building institutional capacity and competitive strength to reap maximum benefit out of free trade regime. Except few cases, Nepal would not have any problem even after accession into the WTO since it has not exercised any quantitative restriction.

Bishwo Nath Sapkota, President of the CPPD also spoke about the significance of the WTO membership for Nepal.

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