GENEVA (AFP) - The World Trade Organization (WTO) gave approval for Saudi Arabia to join the global body after more than a decade of talks, bringing in the biggest oil producer in the world and a heavyweight in OPEC and the Middle East. A Saudi Arabian official said the decision flowed from structural reform in the kingdom and that Saudi Arabia would champion the interests of poor countries.
The Kenyan trade ambassador, Amina Mohamed, who leads the WTO's ruling General Council, said: "We've just taken the decision that allows Saudi Arabia to become the 149th member of the organisation." The General Council, which groups all 148 current member states, gave Saudi Arabia the go-ahead at a special session in Geneva, after more than a decade of negotiations.
Saudi Arabia is the biggest oil producer in the world and is the main force in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Other OPEC members which are also in the WTO are Indonesia, Kuwait, Nigeria, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela.
WTO chief Pascal Lamy welcomed the decision, telling journalists: "It's been a long process, and I firmly believe that it's good for Saudi Arabia, it's good for the trading partners of Saudi Arabia, and it's good for the organisation." "One more heavyweight around the table is good news," Lamy said.
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