ISLAMABAD, Feb 7: World Trade Organization Deputy Director-General Dr K.A.A. Rana has urged 148-member WTO countries for making positive progress in the current negotiations for early conclusion of the Doha Development Agenda by the end of this year.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of a one-week training course in WTO agreements here on Monday. The training was organized by Azam Chaudhry Law Associates.

Mr Rana said the member countries were expected to finalize technical details of the July package agreed last year within the next four to five months.

He said developing countries, including Pakistan, could get access to the new incentives under the agriculture negotiations for terming their products of vital interest as sensitive products to protect them against cheap imports.

Answering a question, the deputy DG said that he was hopeful that the WTO-member states, particularly developed countries would not use the incentives to restrict the entry of products of developing countries into their markets.

Mr Rana pointed out that the member countries had already agreed for reduction on three pillars - domestic support, export subsidies and tariff reduction - of agriculture products under the July package. He said that during the current negotiations the member countries would finalize the figures of how much reduction would occur in these areas in how many years by developed and developing countries.

He said that all these would be finalized during the forthcoming ministerial conference to be held in Hong Kong by the end this year. He said the member countries would revise their offers under the services sector by May 2005.

In reply to a question, Mr Rana said the WTO Secretariat could provide technical assistance to Pakistan for working out offers and request in the services sector.

He said that during the current negotiations a tariff formula would be agreed for reduction of items under the non-agriculture market access and added the agreement on facilitation would help expedite the movement and clearance of goods.

Minister of State for Commerce Hamid Yar Hiraj said that the private sector should play an active role to educate the stakeholders about the impact of WTO agreements. "The private sector should help government in educating masses about the WTO agreements."