Minister concerned for nations still unplugged

                 BANGKOK -- Countries, which are unwilling and
                 unequipped to be plugged into the international
                 economic system, face the risk of being further
                 marginalised, Singapore's Minister of State for
                 Foreign Affairs Ow Chin Hock has warned.

                 Speaking at the Unctad meeting in Bangkok
                 yesterday, he noted that the benefits of trade had
                 been spread unevenly, even among developing
                 countries.

                 There were also growing concerns in developed
                 countries over the dislocation of sunset industries, job
                 losses, the environment and food safety, which have
                 increased protectionist tendencies.

                 These could have severe consequences for the
                 exports of developing countries.

                 Dr Ow said: "Under these circumstances, it is
                 understandable that some of us in the developing
                 world would prefer that the pendulum of change
                 could swing back to... economic self-reliance and
                 import substitution.

                 "But it is no longer a realistic and practical choice for
                 many of us...

                 "Countries which are unwilling and unequipped to be
                 plugged into the international economic system face
                 the risk of being further marginalised."

                 The dilemmas are particularly real for developing
                 countries, he said, adding: "They now have fewer
                 economic choices and development options.

                 "They are in fact facing a systemic crisis -- how to pull
                 themselves out of this economic dilemma and pursue
                 a sustainable growth path in a stable and conducive
                 international environment."

                 However, rewriting international trading rules was not
                 a viable option, nor was insulating one's economy
                 from the vagaries of the international market place.

                 The emphasis should be on building a rules-based
                 multilateral trading system to provide a stable and
                 predictable international trading environment, where
                 even the smallest were protected from discrimination
                 and unilateral actions, he said.

                 In a warning of another kind, International Labour
                 Organisation chief Juan Somavia said that the process
                 of globalisation would be derailed abruptly if the new
                 economy continued to benefit only the rich, AFP
                 reported.

                      Adapted from The Straits Times, 16 Feb 2000.