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stTrade Policy Review of Albania
April 28th, 2010
Day 1 Statement by the Republic of Korea
Thank you.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to join others in expressing a cordial welcome to the delegation of Albania for their first trade policy review.
My appreciation especially goes to Deputy Minister Bozdo for his detailed remarks on the economic achievements of Albania since joining the WTO in the year 2000.
My appreciation also goes to Ambassador Major who has joined us today under a different capacity, and to the Secretariat for its usual informative report.
Mr. Chairman,
Since its inception in the late 1980s, Trade policy reviews under this house have served members by assisting the ‘smooth functioning of the multilateral trading system by achieving greater transparency in, and understanding of, the trade policies and practices of members’. To the member subject to the TPR, it provides an opportunity to gather and reflect upon its policy actions and measures taken during the period under review. For the other members, it provides an opportunity to collectively appreciate, evaluate, and where possible, provide pertinent advice to the member under review for further reflection and possible implementation.
In this context, from the outset this delegation would like to wish Albania a successful TPR, and hope that it will approach this TPR with the goal of taking a step back and reviewing its efforts and achievements, and take some time to reflect upon what other measures could be implemented in the future to further develop its economy.
Mr. Chairman,
In reviewing the reports, my delegation notes and extends its appreciations to Albania for its achievements over the past two decades. We note the extensive program of economic, legal and institutional reforms undertaken, transforming itself from a closed centrally planned economy to a market oriented and private sector driven economy of today.
We also note the solid economic growth over the period under review, during which per capita GDP more than doubled and unemployment decreased under sound macro- economic policies.
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However, we also note future challenges which lie ahead.
In particular, with the expected job losses in the agriculture sector as reform measures are introduced in the coming years, job creation should take place in the services and manufacturing sectors to absorb those who are displaced. On this issue, we would be interested to be better acquainted with Albania’s plans to handle the issue.
With regards to Albania’s FDI regime, we note through the Secretariat report and the Government report that same treatment is provided to domestic and foreign investors.
However there is one exception to this principle, in land ownership. Unfortunately, to my knowledge neither of the two reports provide an explanation for this exception, and whether alternatives such as long term leases are offered to investors in light of this restriction. Furthermore, in light of Albania’s goal to join the EU in the near future, we are of the view that changes to this limitation will be unavoidable. In this context, we would appreciate an explanation on the land ownership regulations of Albania, what alternatives such as long-term leases are in place for foreign investors, and what changes to this limitation are foreseen in the future.
Mr. Chairman,
As for bilateral relations, Korea and Albania’s relations are in its infancy, but growing at a steady pace. We expect it to reach adulthood very soon. Bilateral trade figures have fallen since the peak levels of 15 million USD in 2008; however we are confident that with the global economy on course to recovery, bi-lateral trade and bilateral investment activities will be spurred in the near future.
In closing, I would like to once again extend the best wishes of this delegation to the delegation of Albania, and hope that this review will serve to be an opportunity to take stock of the successes, and review what needs to be done for the future.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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