Commissioner Mandelson begins his mandate with visit to WTO in Geneva

New EU Commissioner for Trade Peter Mandelson will start his mandate today with meetings at the Geneva Headquarters of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

In meetings tonight and tomorrow Mr. Mandelson will meet with WTO Director General Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi and his deputies, chairpersons of negotiating groups and a number of ambassadors to the WTO . He will also meet with agency heads for International Labour Organisation (ILO), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Mr. Mandelson chose to make the WTO his first destination as Trade Commissioner in recognition of the central role of the multilateral trading system, and the importance of making rapid progress on the Doha Development Agenda. Mr. Mandelson said : "A successful Doha Round is my top priority. I have a strong commitment to Trade and Development policies going hand in hand. I would be happy if my period as Trade Comissioner came to be remembered for that. But we have much hard work ahead".

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• Speech by Commissioner Mandelson during his visit to the WTO (23/11/2004)