Phnom Penh, July 04, 2019 –Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, has appealed to all advanced member states of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and development partners to further consider and extend their support so as to assist the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) out of poverty quickly in accordance with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.
The Cambodian Premier made the appeal while attending the opening ceremony of the 7th Aid-for-Trade Global Review 2019 held at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland yesterday.
In his remarks, Samdech Techo Hun Sen sought support to further strengthen the competitiveness of the LDCs and support their programmes during the LDC graduation process; and continue to provide and increase systems of preferences (GSP) for trade through a multilateral (duty free and quota free) or unilateral basis, and appeal to GSP giving countries to take into account thoroughly all factors before taking any action of suspending or withdrawing systems of preferences from LCDs. “Such GSP withdrawing action will certainly deprive LCDs from achieving, together with other countries, the Sustainable Development Goals, and prevent them from graduating from the LDC status. This can be considered as a completely opposite movement to the principles of WTO and UN’s goals,” he added.
Moreover, Samdech Techo Hun Sen asked the advanced WTO’s member states and development partners to build the capacity to reap benefits from new sources of growth, particularly the service sector, the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and digital economy; develop strategies to diversify the economy and production base, aiming at boosting exports, which is a source of income for the promotion of welfare and jobs for women; and connect policy, strategies, and visions of LDCs to the regional and global economic development.
In addition, he urged for assistance to stimulate innovation and promote new practices through mobilising more financing from development partners and private sectors through this Aide-for-Trade Global Review 2019 and other meetings; and to continue to provide assistances for reforms and implementation of Trade Facilitation Agreement, particularly on regulatory reforms.
By Khan Sophirom
