Ulaanbaatar
Mongolian delegation attends Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement meeting
PoliticsUlaanbaatar /MONTSAME / The Fourth Session of the Ministerial Council of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA) was held on 13 January 2017 in Bangkok. The Mongolian delegation to the Ministerial Council session was headed by Mr. Tugsbilguun Tumurkhuleg, Ambassador of Mongolia to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative of Mongolia to UN ESCAP.
In his address to the Ministerial Council, Ambassador Tugsbilguun reiterated the Mongolian Government’s strong intention to join APTA and introduced steps being taken in the country to accede to the Agreement.
He further stated that Mongolia considers APTA as an important market for the country’s trade and investments, which account for nearly 67 percent of trade turnover and 30 percent of foreign direct investment and stressed that the Government of Mongolia attaches high priority to integrating the national economy into regional and global markets.
Moreover, head of the Mongolian delegation expressed his firm belief that his country’s accession to APTA will expand its trade and investment relations with APTA member countries and contribute to the development of Mongolia. The Ministerial Declaration adopted by the 4th session reiterated its support to Mongolia in becoming the new Participating State of APTA and reaffirmed their commitment on a priority basis to expand the membership of the Agreement to evolve it into a truly pan-Asia Pacific Trade Agreement.
In addition, heads of the delegations signed the Protocol to amend APTA: Second Amendment, which revised National Lists of concessions incorporating the Fourth Round concession list and Rules of origin. They also launched the web “APTA Tariff Concessions (MoPs), NTMs and RoO database”.
