Xinhua
11/16/2005
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The post-war Afghanistan is trying to get the membership of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Minister for Commerce and senior advisor to Afghan President announced Wednesday.

"I have the pleasure to announce the process of accession of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to the World Trade Organization (WTO) today," Hedayat Amin Arsala told the audience of a conference here.

Afghanistan, he added, has been a WTO observer since December 2003.

"Today marks a milestone in Afghanistan's further integration into the world economy and the multilateral trading system. This process of accession to the WTO is consistent with and reinforces the national agenda with regard to the ongoing economic and trade policy of the country," the Minister noted.

Lauding the performance of the government, the Afghan minister said that the post-war country has signed a series of trade agreements with the regional countries grouping the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Canada, Japan, United States of America as well as the European Union.

"Afghanistan will benefit from WTO membership through enhancing exports to the world markets. Accession will also benefit from Afghan consumers through greater and domestic markets and more competitively priced imports," the Afghan official emphasized.

Getting WTO membership needs at least eight years but the Afghan minister was hopeful that his government would meet the criteria and enter the organization within three years.

Speaking on the occasion, a WTO representative said, "To join WTO, Afghanistan must make specific commitments to obey by WTO rules in principles."

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