Cambodia’s Membership in the World Trade Organization(WTO): Advantages and Disadvantages by Suos Someth Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative to UN, WTO and other international organizations, Geneva I am honoured and happy to be back in Phnom Penh today among all distinguished personalities present at this very important forum to exchange views and information on Cambodia’s quest to be member of WTO. I am grateful for the CICP and FES for bringing me here to share my views as well as to know yours because together we could help build a prosperous Cambodia, at least at par with neighbouring countries in not too distant future. Under the present circumstance, I strongly believe that Cambodia can do. I have shared on several occasions through the press and other forums, prior to my departure to represent Cambodia at WTO, the information about this organization and my views as to why Cambodia should joint this rule based institution that is WTO. This forum provides another good opportunity to disseminate views and reasons underlying the implications on development when Cambodia becomes member of WTO, particularly on finance, local industries, export markets, imports, and employment and of course on the national policy for poverty alleviation. These concerns are not easy to answer, but they are the challenges that the Government decided to take and take them with strong commitment to integrate trade with development. 10