Page 354 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2024

2/28/24, 10:21 AM WTO has played to provide 'stability, transparency and predictability for international trade': Thani Al Zeyoudi

employment opportunities and enabling the expansion of trade in goods and services"
around the world.

The opening session saw the adoption of the accessions of the Comoros and Timor-Leste,

both least-developed countries.

The President of Comoros, Azali Assoumani, and the President of Timor-Leste, José

Manuel Ramos-Horta, signed the respective Protocols of Accession to the WTO, which

were also signed by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Both governments will
now submit their protocols for ratification by their legislative assemblies. In keeping with

WTO rules, Comoros and Timor-Leste will become members of the WTO 30 days
following the deposit of their respective instruments of acceptance of the Protocol.

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Dr Al Zeyoudi said, "The decisions we have just taken on the accession of the 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 WTO and the multilateral trading system. I strongly believe
that through their future membership in the WTO, Comoros and Timor-Leste will have

stable and predictable frameworks for economic engagement with other nations which will
boost trade, growth and prosperity."

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