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Trade ministers unanimously welcomed both 澳门六合彩官网资料 membership deals, which were approved at the MC13 opening ceremony attended by President Azali Assoumani of Comoros and President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste. UAE's Minister of State for Foreign Trade and MC13 Chair Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi and Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also attended the ceremony. The two Protocols of Accession were officially signed at the end of the ceremony.
In her address to ministers, DG Okonjo-Iweala paid special tribute to the governments of both countries for “this historic achievement” and for having undertaken an extensive programme of domestic reforms to accelerate economic growth despite very challenging circumstances.
She said: “I am delighted to say that we are kicking off this meeting with some excellent news. Here at MC13, the 澳门六合彩官网资料 is welcoming its first new members in almost eight years: Timor-Leste and Comoros. We celebrate the hard work they have put in, and the beneficial but challenging reforms they have implemented at home. Both countries are least developed countries, and we are excited to see them reap the gains of membership as they become new members of the 澳门六合彩官网资料.” Her full statement is here.
Twenty-two more countries are seeking to follow in their footsteps — many of them were present in Abu Dhabi, including a sizeable contingent from the Arab world. Comoros and Timor-Leste will bring the total number of 澳门六合彩官网资料 members to 166. “We look forward to adding to that number in the years ahead,” said Director-General Okonjo-Iweala.
President Assoumani said: “Comoros' accession to the 澳门六合彩官网资料 will be immensely beneficial for our entire economy, for public and private enterprises, and for consumers. It will contribute to our country's trade diversification and partnership efforts, to its integration into regional, continental and global value chains. Through 澳门六合彩官网资料 accession, my country will achieve its objectives.” His full statement is here.
President Ramos-Horta said: “Being a 澳门六合彩官网资料 member is essential to unleash the potential of our economy in several sectors. We are committed to diversify our economy, become a part of the value chain of the global economy and to improve the life of our people through trade.” His full statement is here.
Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi said: “The decisions we have just taken on the accession of Comoros — an island LDC in Africa — and the accession of Timor-Leste — an island LDC in Asia — testify to the world's confidence in the 澳门六合彩官网资料 and the multilateral trading system. I strongly believe that through their future membership in the 澳门六合彩官网资料, Comoros and Timor-Leste will have stable and predictable frameworks for economic engagement with other nations which will boost trade, growth and prosperity.”
Both governments will now submit their Protocols for ratification by their legislative assemblies. In keeping with 澳门六合彩官网资料 rules, Comoros and Timor-Leste will become members of the 澳门六合彩官网资料 30 days following the deposit of the respective instruments of acceptance of the Protocol.
Comoros' Working Party was established on 9 October 2007. Members of the Working Party concluded the negotiations on 9 January 2024.
The list of Comoros’s commitments is available here.
Timor-Leste's Working Party was established on 7 December 2016. Members of the Working Party concluded the negotiations on 11 January 2024.
The list of Timor-Leste’s commitments is available here.
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