PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Trade representatives from some of the world's poorest countries met in Cambodia on Tuesday to look at what the country has gained from being a member of the World Trade Organisation, as aid donors urged them to join, too.
"Cambodia's WTO accession and its national development and poverty reduction strategies complement one another," Chiedu Osakwe, director of the WTO's Accession Division, told the meeting, which ends on Wednesday.
"The results are evident, all around us and impressive," he said of Cambodia's economic growth, which was over 10 percent a year until the global crisis. Much of that was due to the success of its garment sector, which has benefited from access to overseas markets and is its biggest export earner.
Roy Mickey Joy, chief negotiator for Vanuatu's WTO accession, said his country began negotiating with the WTO in 1995 but suspended the talks in 2001 because of the conditions wanted by some bilateral partners and the demands of the WTO itself.
"Cambodia is sharing experiences and the lessons they went through to assist us to join the WTO," Joy told reporters.
"This round table, for us, is very timely and is very important, as we draw lessons from Cambodia on the process of accession to the WTO," Joy said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the WTO, the European Commission, United Nations agencies and the World Bank. Among the countries represented were Afghanistan, Laos, Sudan and Liberia.
No doubt about it That Cambodia will be more developed and more advanced and economy larger economy than Laos even Cambodia was more destroyed and torn apart 100 times more then Laos during the war . Because the Cambodia government changed from the failed communist system to democracy unlike North Korea , Cuba and Laos. So there are a lot of the free world trade country give Cambodia a helping hand to reach where the Cambodia would like to be such as south Korea, Singapore and Malaysia . It is depended on the leader and law and constitution and domestic and foreign policy which would make the country fast or slow developed. So Laos could have a look back as model such as South Korea and Singapore 40 years ago and today and see how advance and improve that those two counties have been or LPDR could follow Cuba and north Korea. Education is the key. LPDR spend only 3% of the budget on education that is very bad policy . Also not enforce the foreign companies to hire and train the local Lao people to work from none skill workers to professional skill workers. That is very bad policy for the local Lao people and they have to going to Thailand and work by hundred of thousand people every year. For the casinos that would bring more harm to the local people more than good and Laos will be turn into the Capital of gamble, prostitutes, drugs , violent crimes that majority of Lao youth will be facing and grow up with and will never reach the more advance international education level of the 21st century.
It is democracy and freedom in Cambodia that will make Cambodia to be like south Korea and Singapore for sure unlike north Korea and Cuba. Cambodia is one of the country that abandon communism. Soon by 2015 Cambodia will be more developed and more advanced at least decade ahead of Laos.
Just watch it and see just like south Korea and Singapore 40 years ago
Cambodia will be have her move just like Singapore and south Korea that Lao LPDR must take as model and change from failed system to the right direction that is democracy and freedom.
No doubt about it That Cambodia will be more developed and more advanced and economy larger economy than Laos even Cambodia was more destroyed and torn apart 100 times more then Laos during the war . Because the Cambodia government changed from the failed communist system to democracy unlike North Korea , Cuba and Laos. So there are a lot of the free world trade country give Cambodia a helping hand to reach where the Cambodia would like to be such as south Korea, Singapore and Malaysia . It is depended on the leader and law and constitution and domestic and foreign policy which would make the country fast or slow developed. So Laos could have a look back as model such as South Korea and Singapore 40 years ago and today and see how advance and improve that those two counties have been or LPDR could follow Cuba and north Korea. Education is the key. LPDR spend only 3% of the budget on education that is very bad policy . Also not enforce the foreign companies to hire and train the local Lao people to work from none skill workers to professional skill workers. That is very bad policy for the local Lao people and they have to going to Thailand and work by hundred of thousand people every year. For the casinos that would bring more harm to the local people more than good and Laos will be turn into the Capital of gamble, prostitutes, drugs , violent crimes that majority of Lao youth will be facing and grow up with and will never reach the more advance international education level of the 21st century.
To Lao kid,
I applauded your suggestion, i wish for Lao Gov is on the same page with you sooner.
Just watch it and see just like south Korea and Singapore 40 years ago
It took Singapore only few decades to change from poverty to first world country with very small peace of island . Cuba and north Korea have more time and still don't see that much improve and people are still poor and in poverty. The people from north Korea are starving and nothing getting better under the corrupted KIM Jong iL regime. Also as Laotian could see the progress of a very small country of Singapore and south Korea which are democracies and freedom countries then compare to North Korea and Cuba which are still poor and their people are starving and living in poverty for many decades and will continue to be poor and living in poverty as long as the communist regime rules those countries. Soon Cambodia will be more develop and larger economy than Laos in only a few years. LPDR must look around the world not only depend on the China and Vietnam and foreign aid or handing out forever. There are a lot of young Lao generation who are successful and well educated and also love their own motherland would like to see Laos be better place to live for Laotian .
So Laos don't have to be like the other cities but Laos could be itself and beautiful as the natural paradise and not man make paradise. As long as the Lao people have good living, good healthy care, good education and equal opportunity and good justice system one and for all and human being right , democracy and freedom then laos will be more developed and advanced .So just take Singapore , south Korea and Cambodia as the model . Even Japan and Germany were completely destroyed after world warll so look at them now. Education is the key for Laos to be successful.
I think you guy love to complaint. You better take action as a model for laos, let do something! don't just eat well and sleep well then blame our government, they have been working very hard to help build the country.
It would be progressive to look at any nation, Cambodia included - pick out the good stuff, weed out the bad. Cambodia was totally wiped out during Pol Pot's reign. The khmer rouge obliterated everything - roadways, buildings and bridges, schools and temples, and thousands of lives. Now they are starting to move on - although a lot of things still have to be done.
Things have up and down side, so the same with rich and poor people, beside high rise buildings and beautiful lights there are other side of story in nearly every countries on this planet.....I felt very sad when I logged in.....the word POLUTION of many countries in FLICK.com, and saw what does it mean when you are poor, just very sad feeling indeed. See for yourself and you will understand about it. Hong Kong is one of the city which has a lot of wealthy people but they still have animal cages for poor people according to DateLine australian TV, so as they told us a part from high luxury building of Hong Kong there are people still live like animals....that's the sad side of the world we live in.
Laos doing this too slow! Look at there neighbors they all beyond Laos further up on WTO and development already. Laos should of started this long time ago now since the world economy are on a tight reform its going to be hard to do business and investment in laos because its too late. And why are some of the high ranking official so greedy? I say all of its citizen should be greedy to and use the land and every off it to survive.
And I'm sorry if some of u members or anonymous feel guilty on your view, but this is my opinion so I hope some of you understand not all of us agree or disagree on certain critical political idea and conversation. :)
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Kwanjai wrote:Laos have no future only foreigner living in laos from rich neigbors to oversea. Laotian will only have future on the street and farming period.
So what are you ? why are you so negative ? Life without dream there are no future and no hope.
Any bank could lent Laos 10 billions dollars and in 10 years later the money will be disappeared and Laos will be broke again and won't be able to pay back the loan.
It have been 13 years already that Laos has been trying to join WTO but failed because Lao government could not comply with the world community and WTO demand about the human being right and the corruption and implement. So no doubt about it that Cambodia will be ahead of Laos at 30 years or more.
It has been 13 years already that Laos have been trying to join WTO? Wow may be Lao government need an other 13 years that how Laotian works slowly and surely.
-- Edited by Dark Angel on Wednesday 24th of February 2010 06:05:34 PM
Why does it take so long and so difficult for Laos to be the member of WTO ? Why does Laos need to be the member of WTO very bad ? In order for the foreign investors to invests in Laos and to have confident with the Lao government . Right now the big major investors in Laos are Thailand , China and Vietnam and Laos does not have the other choice even the government know that China , Vietnam and Thailand take a lot of advantages from Laos specially China and Vietnam by invest every penny worst by gaining politically and economically control and demand in the Lao government.Lao government does not want to obey and comply with the world community about the corruptions and implement and the human being right: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/308850,laos-enters-final-ro...