World Trade Organization WT/MIN(09)/ST/138 4 February 2010 (10-0590) MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original: English Afghanistan Statement by H.E Mr. Wahidullah Shahrani Minister of Commerce & Industry (Speaking as an Observer) Afghanistan is still only an observer to the WTO, but our commitment to become a member is strong and we fully support the goals of the Doha Development Round with its pledge to bring the needs and concerns of the Least-Developed Countries to the forefront of the negotiations. With Afghanistan’s submission of the Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR) to the WTO secretariat in March of this year, the accession process has started. We are excited and optimistic that with the help of our trading partners we will be able to negotiate and obtain approval for the membership of Afghanistan in the not so distant future. In addition to the submission of the MFTR, Afghanistan h