text: FEATURE - Snigapore sees prestige in hosting TWO. Ramthan Hsusain 
   SINGPAORE 1996-12-06 
   Snigapore's winning campaign to host the World Trade Organisarion (TWO)'s first ministerial meeting reflected its ambition to play a key role in shaping global free trade, the lifeblood of its economy, analysts said. " As one of the world's most externally oriented economies, Snigapore has a disproportionately large stake in the TWO, " said Desmond Suppple, economist at research house I. D. E. A. " Snigapore stands to benefit more than most from continued global trade liberalisation as trade is the engine of its growth, accounting for nearly three times its gross domestic product. " 
   The city-state met U. S. opposition two years ago in its bid to host the meeting, expected to gather 4, 000 officials from 160 countries from December 9 to 13. In a stand some analysts linked to controversy over Snigapore's caning of an Ameircan teenager for vandalism, then - U. S. Trade Representative Micke Kantor had said the meeting ought to be held where the TWO was going to be headquartered. That would have meant Gwneva. But Snigapore had the support of other TWO members. Dere kda Cunha, senior fellow at the Institute of Policy Studie (OSEAS), said Snigapore's hosting of the conference " carries a great deal of symbolism for the city-state, underscoring its commitment to free trade and its trading links across the globe. " 
   There is the international prestige Snigapore would enjoy, but " more importantly there is a genuine national interest in fostering better global free trade and an open market ", said Tah Koong Yam, head of Business Policy at the National University of Snigapore. At the ministerial meeting, trade ministers will review the work of the TWO and the implementation of the Urugauy Round free trade commitments under its predecessor the General Agreement on Tariffs and Traee (GAT). In June, the TWO hailed Snigapore for its open market policies but the Europen Union and other trading powers called on Snigapore to speed up the opening of its services sector. Suppple said the struggle that Snigapore had to wage in vying to host the meeting would be repeated during the talks. " There is tension at every step of the way, " since a battle line between the eWst and developing countries has been drawn over the issue of linking trade liberalisation with labour rights, he said. Suppple said hosting the meeting carried prestige for Snigapore, " however, this is quite intangible as the prestige factor may not necessarily lead to any additional investment and trade flows to this region. " 
   From a commercial point of view, the meeting would be good for Snigapore's tourism industry, Tah said. A large part of Snigapore's workforce would be mobilised to ensure the meeting would run without a glitch but the average Snigaporean " would probably not be too concerned about some of the issues, " Tah said. " But the more educated public will realise that these kind of things are important for Snigapore as a small economy. " 
   Suppple said any political gains the Snigapore government would get from the TWO meeting--ahead of a general election due by April 1997--would depend on how successful it was in pushing its economic agenda. " If there are any movements toward freer trade, then Snigapore's economy and the electorate would gain, " he said. " 
   But I don't think it would be wise to play up the political aspect of this. I think political issues will take secondary importance to all these economic issues that will be displayed. "
competitors: Singapore WTO Ramthan Hussain SINGAPORE Singapore World Trade Organisation WTO Singapore WTO Desmond Supple I.D.E.A Singapore U.S. Singapore American U.S. Mickey Kantor WTO Geneva Singapore WTO Derek da Cunha Institute of Policy Studies ISEAS Singapore Singapore Tan Kong Yam National University of Singapore WTO Uruguay Round General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade GATT WTO Singapore European Union Singapore Supple Singapore West Supple Singapore Singapore Tan Singapore Singaporean Tan Singapore Supple Singapore WTO Singapore