The official working team on the accession of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the World Trade Organization (WTO) approved the documents of the Kingdom's membership in the Organization in its final 14th meeting here today. The meeting was attended by Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashim bin Abdullah Yamani; Minister of State and Cabinet's Member Abdullah Zainal Ali Ridha; Saudi Ambassador in Geneva Dr. Abdulwahab Attar; all members of Saudi negotiating team; specializing technical teams; and heads of delegations of 52 member states in the working team. In his speech, Dr. Yamani expressed the Saudi team's thanks and appreciation for the successful and conclusive results of the Kingdom's joining process which lasted 10 years. He pointed out that the Kingdom believes in free economy and principles of just competition, national treatment and the right of the most favored state which are the most important principles of the Organization. It is naturally that the Kingdom will be a member in the Organization to reap the gains from the opening of the world markets for Saudi exports and building its human abilities and capabilities through the increase in the opportunities of investment in the Kingdom, he noted. Dr. Yamani added that the agreement satisfies all parties, achieves the main goal of the Kingdom's admission to the Organization within the principle of equivalence to rights and obligations. --More 0016 Local Time 2116 GMT
