Seychelles’ accession process in final stages
Seychelles has signed a bilateral agreement on trade in goods and services with the Kingdom of Thailand, bringing the country further into the final stages of its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The agreement, which is Seychelles’ seventh bilateral accord, was signed on November 14 between Ambassador Vivienne Fock-Tave on behalf of Seychelles and Ambassador Ruamraksa for the Kingdom of Thailand.
WTO members confirmed that Seychelles was in its last stages of accession to the organisation at Seychelles’ fifth WTO working party meeting held on November 15. The delegation from Seychelles was led by the principal secretary for Economic Policy, Trade and Investment, Dr Steve Fanny.
Dr Fanny told WTO members that Seychelles is committed to enacting the outstanding laws to bring its trade regime in compliance with WTO rules before its accession.
He also paid tribute to the WTO members’ "continuous efforts to welcome all countries, strong and weak, big and small, even the smallest among them to the organisation".
Seychelles’ remaining bilateral negotiations with the United States are ongoing and Japan has formally initiated bilateral negotiations. However, it should be noted that negotiations on the part of the bilateral agreement with Japan pertaining to goods have already been concluded.
As part of Seychelles’ efforts to conclude the accession process in 2014, its 6th working party meeting is scheduled to take place in March 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland.
While examining Seychelles' foreign trade regime, Working Party chairperson Hilda Al-Hinai presented the first version of the Draft Working Party Report, including Seychelles' draft specific commitments and replies to questions from WTO members.
Seychelles updated members on its legislative developments – contained in its revised Legislative Action Plan – since the last Working Party meeting which took place on June 21 and committed to enact any remaining legislation before the next working party meeting.
There was unanimous support by members to conclude the accession process of Seychelles as soon as possible.
Several members also reiterated their call for flexibility to be provided to Seychelles to accelerate the process due to the size of its economy.
Ms Al-Hinai welcomed the "positive, constructive and business-like atmosphere" and called for members to maintain similar working spirit in 2014 "to bring this accession home".
The agreement, which is Seychelles’ seventh bilateral accord, was signed on November 14 between Ambassador Vivienne Fock-Tave on behalf of Seychelles and Ambassador Ruamraksa for the Kingdom of Thailand.
WTO members confirmed that Seychelles was in its last stages of accession to the organisation at Seychelles’ fifth WTO working party meeting held on November 15. The delegation from Seychelles was led by the principal secretary for Economic Policy, Trade and Investment, Dr Steve Fanny.
Dr Fanny told WTO members that Seychelles is committed to enacting the outstanding laws to bring its trade regime in compliance with WTO rules before its accession.
He also paid tribute to the WTO members’ "continuous efforts to welcome all countries, strong and weak, big and small, even the smallest among them to the organisation".
Seychelles’ remaining bilateral negotiations with the United States are ongoing and Japan has formally initiated bilateral negotiations. However, it should be noted that negotiations on the part of the bilateral agreement with Japan pertaining to goods have already been concluded.
As part of Seychelles’ efforts to conclude the accession process in 2014, its 6th working party meeting is scheduled to take place in March 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland.
While examining Seychelles' foreign trade regime, Working Party chairperson Hilda Al-Hinai presented the first version of the Draft Working Party Report, including Seychelles' draft specific commitments and replies to questions from WTO members.
Seychelles updated members on its legislative developments – contained in its revised Legislative Action Plan – since the last Working Party meeting which took place on June 21 and committed to enact any remaining legislation before the next working party meeting.
There was unanimous support by members to conclude the accession process of Seychelles as soon as possible.
Several members also reiterated their call for flexibility to be provided to Seychelles to accelerate the process due to the size of its economy.
Ms Al-Hinai welcomed the "positive, constructive and business-like atmosphere" and called for members to maintain similar working spirit in 2014 "to bring this accession home".
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