WT/MIN(24)/ST/133  
26 February 2024  
(24-1895) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: French  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR THIERRY PATRICK AKOLOSA  
MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY  
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC  
It is an honour for me to take the floor on behalf of the Central African Republic to congratulate 
the WTO on the organization of this Thirteenth Ministerial Conference for WTO Members, here in 
Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.  
The organization of this Session clearly demonstrates the WTO's desire to build a vast and dynamic 
market to best address the specific challenges of the inter national integration process in accordance 
with international commitments.  
I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to the members of the WTO Secretariat for their positive 
contributions throughout this process, which have made this important gathering p ossible.  
Since the last Conference Session, the Central  African  Republic has set about implementing certain 
structural reforms, which have enabled our economy to make considerable gains. The reforms 
include the enactment of Law No.  16.006 of 30  December 20 16 on the Commercial Code in the 
Central African Republic, which has strengthened provisions on the liberalization of the country's 
economy; the enactment of Law No. 23.0012 of 14 December 2023 on the organization of foreign 
trade in the Central African Re public, which operationalizes the implementation of the Central African 
Republic's commitments under existing trade agreements; and the liberalization of the sugar sector, 
to name but a few examples of efforts to improve governance in various sectors of ac tivity and aid 
the recovery of public finances.  
The Central African Republic is also engaged in a vast programme of framework projects in the fields 
of transport infrastructure, energy, health and telecommunications, which are designed to boost the 
nation al economy.  
Unfortunately, these efforts have been hampered by the impact of the health crisis caused by the 
COVID -19 pandemic and the repercussions of the conflict  in Ukraine, from which not even the Central 
African economy has been spared.  
The Government  has concluded a n agreement on an Extended Credit Facility with the International 
Monetary Fund, enabling the Central African Republic to revitalize its economic activity.  
Despite the volatile economic conditions, the Government is building on these encour aging results 
and pursuing and completing the various reforms undertaken with a view to setting the economy of 
the Central African Republic on the path to lasting growth.  
To that end, improving the business climate remains the Government's central concern.  A number 
of reforms have been undertaken, including creating the single window for business formalities, 
dismantling illegal barriers, etc.  
The Central African Republic supports the efforts of Director -General Dr  Ngozi  Okonjo -Iweala to 
breathe new life in to our Organization.  WT/MIN(24)/ST/133  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Her dynamism and personal involvement in the work of the Twelfth Ministerial Conference led to the 
adoption of a package of outcomes, including the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and the 
Statement on WTO Reform. Regarding  these two t opics, the Central African Republic supports the 
position of the least developed countries (LDCs).  
Lastly, the Central African Republic appreciates Members' efforts to find solutions to the 
multidimensional crisis currently faced by the WTO.  
__________