PRESS/60
15November 1996
MEETING OFMINISTERS FROM 29LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
INWTO INPREPARATION FOR SINGAPORE
13to15November 1996
"How cantheworld 'spoorest countries riseuptobecome fullpartners intheglobal economy
andhowtoconnect these countries withtheexpress trainwecallglobalization?", asked Mr.Renato
Ruggiero, Director General oftheWTO inaddressing Ministers andhigh-rank policy officials of29
Least Developed Countries intheWTO, onFriday 15November.
Thethree daymeeting wasorganized bytheWTO Secretariat, withthefinancial support of
thegovernments ofNorway, Korea andtheCzech Republic. Itsmainobjective wastoassist Ministers
fromLeast Developed Countries tobetter appreciate theWTO, itsobjectives andfunctions, assessing
theimportance ofastrengthened roleinthemultilateral trading system aswellasdiscussing the
requirements andopportunities arising from thenewtrading environment.
Addressing theaudience, Mr.Renato Ruggiero emphasized three immediate priorities forthe
future :
- toassist Least Developed Countries infinding astronger voice intheWTO andusing
thesystem more, asdeveloping countries already do;
- tousenewtechnologies towiden trade knowledge andexpertise and"tohelpyour
policy makers andtraders become more aware ofopportunities intheglobal system,
andbetterequippedtoseizethem".Thedevelopmentofnewtechnologiesofinformation
would also"open upnewexciting possibilities fortapping intothepotential ofthe
developing world 'smost precious asset-itspeople".
- tofurther develop collaboration between multilateral institutions inprogrammes of
technical assistance. TheWTO andUNCTAD, withtheInternational Trade Center,
havealready taken someimportant stepsinfavour ofLeast Developed Countries. "This
kindofcollaboration isagoodstart, butweneedtowork closely withallother relevant
organizations -whether intheUnited Nations system, theBretton Woods organizations,
orthevarious regional bodies -toensure thattheresources andexpertise ofthe
international community remain focused, coordinated andrelevant tothemostpressing
needs. More important, ourcollaboration hastobedirected towards alarger goalor
vision".
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Mr.Rubens Ricupero, Secretary General ofUNCTAD, spoke ontheparticipation ofLeast
Developed Countries (LLDCs) inthemultilateral trading system andthepromotion ofequitable
development. MrRicupero urged common andcoordinated efforts ofalldonors, including international
organizations andadvanced developing countries.
"Bilateral andmultilateral support would beinvaluable forprogrammes toreduce Developing
Countries'debtstock,improvephysicalinfrastructureandsocialservicesnecessaryto"crowd-in"private
investment, strengthen technological capabilities andimprove localskills, increase market access for
LLDCs, promote regional cooperation, andenhance negotiating capacities ofLLDCs toenable them
toparticipate effectively infuture tradenegotiations attheWTO aswellastoarticulate theirdevelopment
priorities andsafeguard theirtrading interests within theframework ofthemultilateral trading system".
Themeeting covered aspects relating totrade anddevelopment under theUruguay Round
AgreementsandscopeforsupportivepolicyformulationtoassistLeastDevelopedCountriestoovercome
supply-side blockages andtomake fulluseoftradeopportunities available. Special attention wasgiven
tomultilateral technical cooperation thatcanbeprovided through theWTO.
Themeetingalsotriedtoassistandfacilitateadvancepreparationtoensureeffectiveparticipation
intheforthcoming WTO Ministerial Conference inSingapore inDecember 1996. Some ofthemain
issues thatareincluded initsagenda were specifically addressed. Theparticipation ofMinisters of
LeastDevelopedCountriesintheSingaporeMinisterialConference(SMC)isessentialasWTOMembers
willtakefullstock oftheoperation ofthemultilateral trading system, address issues regarding
implementation anddetermine thefuture course ofactivities intheWTO.
Theparticipation attheSMC byMinisters andaccompanying senior officials fromWTO LLDC
Members willbemade possible through aspecial fundthathasbeenputtogether forthispurpose from
generousfinancialcontributionscommittedbytheEuropeanUnion,theNetherlands,Belgium,Denmark,
Finland, Australia andSingapore. Inaddition, theFriedrich Ebert Foundation (Germany) isproviding
financial assistance tofacilitate journalists coming from leastdeveloped andsome other developing
countries toattend andreport ontheMinisterial Meeting.
Themeeting wasopened byH.E.Mr.William Rossier, theChairman oftheGeneral Council
oftheWTO. Itincluded keynote speeches byH.E. Mr.AlecErwin, Minister forTrade andIndustry
ofSouth Africa, H.E. Mr.Tofael Ahmed, Minister forCommerce andIndustry ofBangladesh, H.E.
Mrs. KariNordheim-Larsen, Minister forDevelopment Cooperation ofNorway, H.E. MrNacer
Benjelloun-Touimi, Chairman oftheCommittee onTrade andDevelopment.
Allspeeches areavailable intheWTO Secretariat.
END