./.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/MIN(01)/10
12 November 2001
(01-5691)
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE
Fourth Session
Doha, 9 - 13 November 2001Original:  English
ADDRESS BY HIS HIGHNESS
SHEIKH HAMAD BIN KHALIFA AL-THANI
EMIR OF THE STATE OF QATAR
We are happy to receive you here in Qatar at the fourth Ministerial Conference of the World
Trade Organization, which is one of the most important international organizations established in the
last Century.
The convening of your Conference in Doha at this juncture in particular has regional and
international significance.  Moreover, it opens for us many horizons to work for the consolidation of
the world trade order by developing the fundamentals on which world trade must be based and
elaborating the requirements needed so as to contri bute more effectively to opening the gates of a
world in which prosperity and stability prevail, and which enjoys communication and amity.
The multilateral trade system has, undoubtedly, contributed to the growth of world economy.
It has also extended aid to a number of developing countries to boost their economic and social
development, especially in the last two decades.  However, the benefits were not uniformly spread,
and have bypassed many developing countries.  This  can be seen if we look at income distribution
across the world, which is still skewed in favour of the few in an unacceptable manner.  Eighty per
cent of the world population consume only 15 per cent of the resources of the world, while 20 per centconsume about 85 per cent of those resources.
If it is our goal that the WTO should be the engine which drives the wheel of economic
development in the world, it must take full account of the needs and expectations of developing
countries, the populations of which represent the great majority of the world's population.  To achievethat, ministers must work to find an effective mechanism within the WTO which can provide a
realistic prospect for these countries, particularly the least-developed ones, to contribute to developing
the fundamentals of the trade system, and its interpretation within a context that fully takes into
account the economic, social and technical parameters of these countries, which would in turn help
them derive real benefits from this system in future.
This Conference is a favourable opportunity to welcome more than one billion people
representing new members of the Organization, which is a significant step on the path to making it a
global Organization.
The convening of this Conference in the Arab region is a reminder of the region's historic
interest in trade, which goes back to several centu ries before and after Islam, which was reflected in
commercial exchanges both within and beyond the region itself or across the then existing
civilizations in Europe, Africa and Asia.  This deeply rooted historical commercial background of the
Arab countries can serve, as well as benefit from, the world trade order.
This Conference gives the State of Qatar the opportunity to introduce itself and show that its
economic system is open and flexible, falling in line with the overall objectives of the World TradeWT/MIN(01)/10
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Organization as characterized by freedom of trade exchange, guaranteeing of the prerequisites of fair
competition and encouragement of foreign investment.
As for foreign investments, the State of Qatar attaches great importance to attracting them by
providing a favourable climate and enacting encouraging, flexible conditions for overseasparticipation in the country.
Your responsibility today is great.  The Fourth WTO Ministerial Conference coincides with a
difficult period where several countries have seen their economies undergoing recession and slow
down.  You will be the focus of attention until a Ministerial Declaration satisfactory to all parties is
issued;  a declaration launching a fresh round of trade negotiations in Doha that reinforces confidence
in the Organization, gives a strong impetus to trade exchanges, and at the same time gives a badlyneeded stimulus to the world economy.
The world is looking forward to a new round that would give prominence to development,
consolidate the principles of justice and equity in the multilateral trade system, and open wide the
doors of every market for the commodities of less developed countries and contribute to theflourishing of their economies.
In view of the many opportunities provided by this Conference, we hope that you would do
your utmost to make it a success by adopting resolutions which will give the WTO future programmes
aimed primarily at establishing dialogue of nati ons and peoples and consolidating the world trade
order into one leading to peace and stability and securing prosperity for all.
A successful meeting will be the best possible demonstration that all nations, rich and poor
alike, are working together for a better and more just world.  It will show that cooperation and mutual
understanding are the way to solve our problems.
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