accessions
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ membership: Anniversary events
Anniversary events provide an opportunity to commemorate milestone anniversaries for °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ members that have joined the organization since the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ was established in 1995. These events help to shed light on a member's integration into the multilateral trading system and the global economy. Events held to mark °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ membership anniversaries are highlighted below.
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11:30-11:45
High-Level Opening Session
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
- H.E. Mr. Chenggang Li, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China to the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
News: °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ, ITC reflect on five years of Liberia’s °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ membership
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Emerged from the civil war and the Ebola crisis, Liberia presented a unique case in the accessions of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ by activating and finalising its process within a short period. Liberia became the 163rd Member of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ on 14 July 2016. This case, known by some as "Liberian model", comprised of key ingredients including strong political commitment to accession-related reforms at the highest level of the government, intensive engagement by °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Members in the accession process, and extensive technical assistance and support provided by development partners and the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Secretariat.
This session will reflect on the first five years of Liberia's °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ membership, including the impact of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ accession on Liberia's economy and the remaining challenges facing Liberia as a post-conflict LDC. It will also provide a platform for an exchange of views with °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Members and development partners on the way forward, with a view to reaping the full benefits from Liberia's participation in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ.
Moderator:
- Ms. Maika Oshikawa, Director, Accessions Division, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
13h00 – 13h25
High-Level Opening:
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
Statement
Statement- Hon. Ms. Mawine G. Diggs, Minister of Commerce and Industry of Liberia
Statement
13h25 – 13h30
Video Message:
13h30 – 14h00
Presentation of Study: "Liberia: A Retrospective on Five Years of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Membership"
Commentator:
- Mr. Axel M. Addy, former Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chief Negotiator for Liberia's accession to the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
Statement
14h00 – 14h30
Interventions by development partners & Discussion on Way Forward
News: Event marks 5 years of Afghanistan’s °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ membership
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Afghanistan is the latest addition to the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ family which became the 164th Member of the Organization on 29 July 2016, following 12 years of accession negotiations. Despite the serious capacity constrains faced by Afghanistan as a fragile and conflict-affected least-developed country (LDC), it has demonstrated exceptional commitment to integration in the multilateral trading system and global economy and set a high standard for LDCs participation in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ.
This 5-year anniversary provides for a timely opportunity to reflect on the results of the first years of Afghanistan's °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ membership, assess the impact of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ accession and the remaining challenges, including those recently caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and to exchange views with °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Members and development partners on the way ahead, with the objective to maximize benefits from Afghanistan's participation in the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ.
Moderator:
- Ms. Maika Oshikawa, Director, Accessions Division, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
13h00 – 13h30
High-Level opening:
- Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Director-General, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
Statement - Mr. Sulaiman Bin Shah, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce of Afghanistan
Statement
13h30 – 14h00
Presentation of an Accession Impact Study: "Afghanistan: A Retrospective on Five Years of °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Membership"
- Mr. Patrick Low, former Chief Economist, °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
- H.E. Mr. Sayed Ramin Ziwary, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Afghanistan to the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ
Statement
14h00 – 14h30
Interventions by development partners & Discussion on Way Forward
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