Ugandan Trade Minister Daudi Migereko has said the trade deal concluded in Hong Kong on Sunday was a good start that will pave way for Africa's entry into the global market.

"These negotiations have been a success. The consensus we have reached is a good start, which will pave way for Africa's entry into the global market. It is the first time Western countries agreed to eliminate subsidies and conceded to their distorting effects on the market," Migereko was quoted by local press as saying on Tuesday.

During an interview at the conclusion of the sixth ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the minister said " as Uganda, duty-free access to Western markets is critical on the predictable basis. Once investors are certain of our markets, they will invest in our country."

He said "we are on the road to effectively tackling poverty. You cannot achieve this if you cannot guarantee markets for goods or if you are not addressing the supply side constraints."

Source: Xinhua