Four years ago, a ministerial conference of the World Trade Organisation collapsed in Hong Kong.

Unfortunately, the issues that divided the group back then continue to dog the Doha Round today and chances of reaching consensus on the proposals of the December Texts in Agriculture and non-agriculture market access (NAMA), among others, are still remote.

There is cause to worry then, as the Trade ministers end their meeting on Wednesday in Geneva.

The WTO Director General, Pascal Lamy has been prodding nations to reach to a compromise and conclude the Doha Round which has gone on for far too long, during which time there has been a great deal of backtracking.

As we watch, issues left pending are becoming increasingly complex.

A new debate on cotton has erupted and countries have resorted to applying double standards on special products.

We are afraid that the Doha Round is slowly losing its momentum.

African nations are demanding preferential treatment and which includes duty-free and quota-free market access to developed nations.

These are not new demands but the recent financial crisis and its adverse effect on African economies make them more urgent and valid.

We maintain that these issues must be discussed and agreed upon if Doha Round is to walk the talk.

In addition, unless developing nations are given the opportunity to protect the most vulnerable sectors of their economies, then the Doha Round will not make sense in emerging markets.

We agree that the Special Safeguard Mechanisms (SSMs) that have been proposed are vital if Africa, for instance, is to benefit from the Doha Round.

The purpose of SSMs is to allow developing countries to trigger higher tariffs if import volumes rise or prices fall beyond accepted parameters.

Insulating such economies is not a sign cowardice but of goodwill.

Liberalisation cannot happen in a poisoned atmosphere.

Unless there is consensus and flexibility on the part of nations, the Doha Round is likely to fail to make an impression once again.

As we negotiate, we must all remember that the primary objective of the WTO is to achieve sustainable development.

If the international trade regime loses this focus then it will not receive the support it needs.

That is why the Doha Ministerial meeting is plays an important role in shaping the debate and acting as a filter to what nations stand for.

But WTO has had its share of blunders.

There are too many expectations and variety of thoughts and hidden texts.

That cannot be the spirit. Does it make sense for instance for Africa to open its markets while the others are still locked?

Does it make any sense when nations continue to subsidise their agriculture and dump the same on Africa?

These are valid points and should be addressed, however long it takes. But time is not on our side.

That is why the Ministerial matters and its outcome should be studied keenly.