The
Civil Society Forum plans for organising
parallel meeting during the upcoming
Least Developing Countries (LDCs)
Ministerial meeting in Dhaka to
express their concern on key issues
of World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Prior
to the LDCs Commerce Ministerial
meeting at Dhaka during May 31-June
2 to explore the possibility of
forging a common stand in the
upcoming Fifth Ministerial Meeting
of the World Trade Organisation
(WTO) scheduled in Cancun, Mexico
from September 10-14, in 2003.
On
the eve of the LDCs Ministerial
meeting, the global civil society
will hold their discussion on
May 29-30 at Hotel Sheraton to
create an opportunity for the
stakeholder groups to review the
official work plan for the Cancun
meet to express their views on
some of the most important issues,
which concern the collective interests
of the LDCs.
The
upcoming Dhaka Ministerial meeting
will address issues of interests
and concerns to the LDCs In view
of the post-Doha development and
is expected to come up with the
"Dhaka Declarations of the
LDCs".
The
parallel meeting of the civil
society having a national support
base would complement the LDCs
meeting and would be able to influence
the LDCs Ministers. They would
make efforts to hand over the
recommendations to the LDCs meeting
mooted by the civil society, he
said.
CPD
is organising the forum in association
with a number of international
partner organisation and a national
steering committee has also been
formed for the event.
The
think-tank CPD chief mentioned
there are several issues where
progress have not been achieved.
He said three areas made no progress
since WTO began discussion. The
issues trailing behind are Trade,
Debt and Finance.
Others
who addressed the briefing among
others were Dr Zafarullah Chowdhury,
Shireen Akhter, Syed Sultan Uddin
Ahamad and Prof Amirul Islam.
