WT/MIN(24)/22  
 
27 February  2024 
(24-1791) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26-29 February 2024  Original: English  
 
  
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT  ADOPTED AT THE FIRST MINISTERIAL MEETING  OF THE 
INFORMAL GROUP OF ACCEDING GOVERNMENTS  (IGAG)  
ABU DHABI , UNITED ARAB EMIRATES , 26 FEBRUARY  2024 
We, the Ministers  and Heads of Delegations  of the Informal Group of Acceding G overnments , issue 
this statement at  the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference  (MC13):  
 
Recognizing  the importance of the Informal Group of Acceding Governments (IGAG), established in 
March 2018, as a platform for  knowledge , experience -sharing and coordination among acceding 
governments,  as well as for  dissemination of information on the latest state of  play in different areas 
of work of the WTO ; 
 
Noting  that the accession process has become lengthy and burdensome for acceding governments;  
 
Recognizing  that the majority of currently acceding governments  are least-developed countries 
(LDCs) and /or fragile and conflict -affected states (FCS)  which face serious challenges, and capacity 
and resource constraints in accession negotiations;  
 
Emphasizing the key role of targeted technical assistance in advancing accession negotiations  and 
ensuring that re cently acceded Members can be effective participants in the WTO, including in the 
immediate post -accession phase,  particular ly LDCs  and FCS : 
 
1. Welcome  the signing of the protocols of accession of two LDC and FCS Members, Comoros 
and Timor -Leste, which will contribute to achieving the overarching goal of WTO universality;  
 
2. Reaffirm our commitment to joining the WTO and to the principles of openness an d 
transparency, universality, and non -discrimination of the  rules-based multilateral  trading system;  
 
3. Urge  WTO Members to uphold the principles of rules-based multilateral trading system  in the 
accession of the acceding governments;  
 
4. Urge WTO Members and development partners to enhance the provision of coordinated and 
targeted technical assistance and capacity building to acceding governments, inclu ding through the 
strengthening of the role of the Coordination Group on Accessions -related Technical Assistance  and 
the establishment of an accession -specific trust fund to support acceding gov ernments' technical 
assistance needs;  
 
5. Call on WTO Members to facilitate the conclusion of ongoing accessions on a 
non-discriminatory basis , including those of LDCs in line with the LDC Accession Guideline s 
(WT/L/508 and Addendum 1);  
 
6. Call on WTO Members to give consideration to reviewing the procedures for the accession 
process as part of the WTO Reform discussion under the auspices of the General Council , with a view 
to streamlining , facilitating,  and simplifying accession while ensuring the prin ciples of rules-based 
multilateral trading system . We request the Group of Article XII Members  to work with the IGAG in 
this regard ; 
 WT/MIN(24)/22  
 
- 2 - 
 
  7. Urge the WTO Secretariat to step  up post -accession support to new Members, to  ensure 
effective and full implementation of WTO accession -specific commitments, particularly in the context 
of LDC accessions;  
 
8. Call on WTO Members to support measures to acceding Governments recently graduated from 
the LDC category. These measures can be  the list of special LDC provisions in WTO agreements and 
related decisions and considered as part of the smooth transition strategy for LDCs ; 
 
9. Commend  the Director -General for supporting the IGAG members and the valuable activities 
of the WTO Secretariat in providing technical assistance in its different forms and request for 
continued support of such activities;  
 
10. Welcome  the Director -General's  country -specific approach and her personal engagement in 
accession  files. 
 
__________