WT/MIN(22)/ST/106  
12 June 2022  
(22-4546) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12-15 June  2022 Original: Spanish  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR HÉCTOR SILVA  
DEPUTY MINISTER OF PRODUCTIVE ECONOMY OF THE MINISTRY OF PEOPLE'S POWER 
FOR ECONOMY, FINANCE AND FOREIGN TRADE, HEAD OF DELEGATION  
BOLIVARIAN REPUBLIC OF VENEZUELA  
On behalf of the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás  Maduro  Moros, and of 
citizen Executive Vice -President and Minister of Economy, Finance and Foreign Trade, 
Ms Delcy  Rodríguez Gómez, as well as the entire Venezuelan people, we would like to extend a warm 
greeting t o you and thanks for the efforts to reactivate this Twelfth Ministerial Conference of the 
WTO, which is seeking to strengthen global cooperation in the current multilateral trading system, 
from the perspective of fair and inclusive trade. This means adopti ng reforms that benefit developing 
countries and large vulnerable groups, such as small -scale farmers, producers, workers, fisherfolk 
and indigenous peoples.  
We believe that the WTO must adjust to this new era and go back to its roots of serving as a forum  
for the discussion of ideas and agreements for the development of peoples, thereby seeking to assist 
the most vulnerable populations, in order to go beyond the reality of the new global economy that 
requires us to adapt to the new challenges that humanity  is facing.  
Many lessons have been learned from the crisis arising from the COVID -19 pandemic, including, with 
respect to many national and international, public and private, weaknesses when addressing such a 
delicate issue that implicates human health in  trade, logistics, finance, the economy and investments 
for development.  
We believe that this Organization must play a particular role in helping developed countries to 
abandon for good the neo-colonial  point of view and the vices of hegemonism that curta il equitable 
and fair development, by aspiring to move towards multilateralism and genuine international 
cooperation.  
This is why the National Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela considers it appropriate 
to reiterate before the WTO the compl aint that it has been the target of more than 502 unilateral 
coercive measures imposed by the world's hegemons and their peripheral allies, as well as a financial 
blockade that has exceeded USD  8 billion in various international financial institutions. The se 
measures have sought to tarnish the reputation of and weaken Venezuela's institutional framework.  
In spite of this, the Venezuelan people have resisted and shown signs of economic stabilization and 
recovery, with improvements in certain non -traditional productive sectors. According to statistical 
data from the International Trade Centre (ITC) itself, total non -traditional exports – which do not 
include traditional goods related to oil, its derivatives and gold – saw growth of more than 100% in 
2021 compa red to 2020.  
Nevertheless, we are not complacent; Venezuela has decided to focus its actions in this new phase 
on driving forward and consolidating the comprehensive economic recovery by invigorating engines 
of production and ensuring the stability of key economic markets. To that end, it has been crucial 
for Venezuela to adopt of its own accord recommendations and foreign trade policies developed 
within the WTO, as in the case of setting up the Foreign Trade Committee, and developing the Single 
Window for Foreign Trade and policies to optimize and digitize administrative processes, thereby 
seeking to promote the structural facilitation of Venezuelan foreign trade.  WT/MIN(22)/ST/106  
 
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  We are also launching programmes for the internationalization of small and medium -sized 
enterp rises through e -commerce, such as the Exporta Fácil  (Exporting Made Easy) programme, 
which President Nicolas Maduro Moros has been promoting in recent months as a commitment to 
improve and facilitate trade.  
In this new reality, Venezuela aims to focus its foreign trade policy on negotiations for better market 
access conditions for the positioning of Venezuela's non -traditional exportable supply, by launching 
a push for the negotiation of international agreements that will take the shape of stable trading an d 
investment rules. These will help us to reactivate our economy and get over the bitter taste left by 
the coercive measures that run counter to peace in our country, by helping to contribute to the 
development of a fairer and more equitable multicentric a nd multipolar world.  
We also wish to express our interest in moving forward with the implementation of the WTO Trade 
Facilitation Agreement, in order to take advantage of the opportunities and benefits that the 
international market offers to be more compet itive and incorporated more efficiently into global 
value chains, beating the traps of transnational imperialism that have sought to paralyse efforts to 
develop our country's trade.  
It is an honour to be here today representing the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Government 
of President Nicolás Maduro Moros and the Venezuelan people, a country in a true economic recovery 
phase at the end of 2021 and with growth projected for 2022. We note that, according to 
international bodies and experts, there is evidence that Venezuela's private sector experienced 
double digit growth in the first quarter of 2022.  
We reiterate the commitment of Venezuela, its people and the Bolivarian Government of President 
Nicolás Maduro to continue to work constructively with the WTO. Working together to bring new 
perspectives and identify new routes to a human society based on equality, togetherness and social 
justice.  
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