DILI, 09 november 2023 (TATOLI) – The Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste in Geneva, Ambassador Lurdes Bessa, with her counterpart, the Permanent Representative of Thailand, Ambassador Pimchanok Pitfield, signed on tuesday, a bilateral negotiations protocol on Market Access Offers on the occasion of Timor-Leste’s accession to the WTO.
The signing of the bilateral agreement marks the conclusion of the market access negotiations that Timor-Leste had with nine interested Members of the WTO and the European Union.
The signing gave the country a major step closer to WTO accession, which is expected to take place on february next year.
His Excellency Minister of Commerce and Industry, Filipus Nino Pereira, participated virtually and delivered a short remarks. On his intervention, Minister Pereira expressed the Government of Timor-Leste’s gratitude to the Government of Thailand for their constructive engagement and support which led to the finalization and signing of the bilateral agreement.
Similarly, Ambassador Pitfield reiterated Thailand’s continuous support to Timor-Leste’s final steps towards its full membership to the WTO by MC13.
In addition, she highlighted Thailand’s commitment to strengthen cooperation with Timor-Leste on trade, both at the multilateral and regional context.
Also participated in the ceremony, the Permanent Representative of Portugal in Geneva and Timor-Leste’s Working Party Chairperson, Ambassador Rui Macieira, and the WTO Director of the Accessions Division, Maika Oshikawa.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Filomeno Martins
