By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE Christie administration is aiming to complete the Bahamas' accession to full World Trade Organisation (WTO) membership before the 2017 end of its term in office, Financial Services Minister Ryan Pinder told Tribune Business. He is preparing to lead a delegation to Geneva, Switzerland, this week for a second round of negotiations.

Mr Pinder said the Government is taking the accession process very seriously. He added: "Negotiating meetings with the World Trade Organisation are in Geneva this week, so I will be leading a delegation, the technical team and negotiating team, to go and have our second round of negotiations with the WTO to update them on the progress that has been made by the country, to present them with our rededication to the WTO accession as a new government, and to speak one-on-one with countries about key concerns to our WTO accession.

"From all indications the WTO is still very excited about our accession progress and negotiations, so we look forward to a very fruitful trip. It is a process that takes some time, negotiations and legislative agenda, but I think negotiations will go well. We are taking it very seriously. We are taking the complete team to show our rededication to the international community, and how we take the WTO accession process seriously."

Mr Pinder said it was the Christie administration's goal to complete the negotiation process within this term. "We hope to between now and the end of the year get an idea on the scheduled bilateral discussions, hopefully have our third round of discussions maybe a year from now, and proceed with the legislative agenda. Certainly, our goal is to complete the negotiation process within our term," Mr Pinder said.