Abuja — The minister of commerce and industry, Engr Charles Ugwuh, has expressed serious concern over the slow pace of progress in the Doha work programme since Nigeria became signatory to the Doha Development Agenda in the city of Doha, Qatar in 2001.

The minister, however, stated that although the outcomes of the Doha Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations (MTN) were meant to benefit all members of the Doha agreement under the aegis of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), such outcomes were particularly targeted at strengthening various contributors to economic growth in developing countries.

Ugwu who reaffirmed the federal government's avowed commitment to the mandate of MTN, stressing that "as a founding member of the World Trade Organisation, Nigeria recalls with very deep regret the continued lack of progress in the Doha work progress since the launching of negotiations at Doha, Qatar in 2001.

"Although, the foreseen outcomes of the Doha Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations are intended to benefit all members, the overwhelming consensus is that they are particularly targeted at making strong contributions to economic growth in developing countries".

The minister, who was represented by Mrs. Adegite Omeresan, director of finance and account in the ministry at the two day WTO workshop on agricultural and non-agricultural market access negotiations, at Gubabi International Hotel, Abuja, noted that the WTO mandate was paramount in the country's efforts towards ensuring a successful conclusion of the Doha Work programme, especially when the country is not only a member but also an active participant in the various group processes, particularly the African Group, G.20,G.33 and the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group countries.

The minister appealed to member countries of WTO to adhere to the mandate and avoid distractions capable of diverting attention from the goal of successfully concluding the Doha Round in no distant time.

The permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr. Raofiq Ogunbanbi, reminded the participants of the objective of the workshop aimed at familiarising them with recent developments in the ongoing negotiations in agricultural and non-agricultural market access.

He expressed the hope that the workshop would afford the participants the opportunity to appraise themselves with the progress so far made in country's bid to actualize its aspirations into the Multilateral Trade Negotiations.