BRUSSELS, Belgium — Minister of Financial Services the Hon. L. Ryan Pinder (left) poses with Director General of the World Trade Organization Pascal Lamy (second right), during a meeting in Belgium, Brussels, on October 24, 2012. Also pictured are Acting Director of Trade and Industry in the Ministry of Financial Services Viana Gardiner and Charges D’Affaires in The Bahamas High Commission in London Frank Davis.
Brussels, Belgium 24th October 2012 – The Minister of Financial Services, who has responsibility for international trade, Hon. Ryan Pinder, today held bilateral discussions with the Director General of the World Trade Organisation, Mr. Pascal Lamy, on the way forward for The Bahamas’ accession to the WTO.
The two heads also discussed the steps taken by the Government since its second accession Working Party Meeting with members of the WTO in Geneva in June of this year, and the preparation being made for the third Working Party Meeting scheduled for March 2013. The Working Party meetings are the forum in which members of the WTO collectively scrutinize an acceding country’s domestic trade regime. These meetings have provided the springboard for bilateral negotiations between The Bahamas and other member countries.
Minister Pinder advised that the Government had made considerable strides on its trade legislative agenda, particularly as regards legislation on intellectual property, sanitary and phyto-santiary measures, tariffs, anti-dumping measures and direct investment transparency. He also noted the steps taken by the Government to bring significantly greater public awareness and education regarding the WTO accession process, in the hosting of workshops and planned symposiums.
Mr. Lamy noted the momentum which has been created in The Bahamas’ bid to accede to the WTO. He complimented the country on the progress being made and stressed the importance of creating the necessary legislative framework to support The Bahamas’ accession to the WTO. Mr. Lamy leant the Minister and his delegation the benefit of his experience by providing advice regarding bilateral negotiations. He also made invaluable commitments to the Trade Minister to personally assist at a high Governmental level with the accession process.
Minister Pinder was accompanied by the Acting Director of Trade and Industry in the Ministry of Financial Services, and the Charges D’Affaires in The Bahamas High Commission in London.