Kathmandu, May 25 : Nepal is to acquire membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by 2001.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ram Krishna Tamrakar, who returned here today after attending the first meeting of the working group on WTO membership for Nepal expressed this conviction while talking with media persons at Tribhuwan International Airport.

He informed the media that representatives from SAARC, ASEAN and the EC, while commenting on his working paper designed in consonance with the framework of the organisation, had spoken up for providing prompt and speedy membership to an underdeveloped country like Nepal which has a small economy.

He also made it clear that he furnished clarifications during talks with representatives from Japan, New Zealand, Canada, Norway, the USA, Sri Lanka, India, Australia, Brazil and the EC and they expressed satisfaction over that.

According to him, some countries had suggested amending some clauses in Nepal’s proposal.

In reply to a query, Minister Tamrakar said extensive deliberations were held within the country on Nepal’s accession to the WTO. The government is cautious over the protection of indigenous industries in order to boost their competitiveness in comparison with foreign countries.

According to a press communiqué issued by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, an additional questionnaire will be sent by the WTO secretariat in June, diplomatic support will be sought in August and bilateral talks held in September prior to the second round meeting of the membership working group slated to be convened in November-December. Minister Tamrakar had led a nine-member Nepalese delegation to the meeting.