RESTRICTED  
  
WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
24 July 2023 
(23-5044) Page: 1/28 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Fifty-Eighth Session on Aid for Trade    
 
  
NOTE ON THE MEETING OF  12 MAY 2023 
Chairperson:  H.E. M r José Sánchez -Fung (Dominican Republic ) 
Contents  
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA  ................................ ................................ ....................  1 
B. IMPLEMENTATION OF AID -FOR-TRADE WORK ACTIVITIES  ................................ ..... 1 
I. Resource Mobilization and Implementation Activities  ................................ .............  1 
II. Mainstreaming  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...... 19 
III. Regional Dimension  ................................ ................................ ..............................  24 
IV. Private Sec tor ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 24 
V. Monitoring and Evaluation of Implementation and Development Effectiveness  .... 27 
C. OTHER BUSINESS  ................................ ................................ ................................ .. 28 
 
A. ADOPTION  OF THE AGENDA  
1.  On 1 2 May  2023, the Committee on Trade and Development  (CTD)  Aid for Trade held its 
58th session . The meeting was chaired by  H.E. M r José Sánchez -Fung, of  the Dominican Republic . 
The Agenda was circulated  on 14 April 2023 in WTO/AIR/COMTD/AFT/2 6. 
2.   The Chair thanked h is predecessor, Ambassador Usha Dwarka -Canabady, for her tireless efforts 
in elaborating the Aid-for-Trade Work Programme for the 2023-2024 biennium , thus allowing the 
new Chair to start its implementation along with  Members with a clear direction. The Chair made 
two changes to the agenda, proposing that sub -item (V)(b) "Statement by the Secretariat on the 
draft self -assessment monit oring formats " precede sub -item (V)(a) "Report on the workshop on 
Aid for Trade in support of boosting agricultural production and agribusiness, food security, 
livelihoods and trade". In the interest of time, he also proposed to publish the summary of the 
workshop directly online on the WTO website rather than orally presenting it  during the meeting.  
3.  With these modifications, the agenda was adopted . 
B. IMPLEMENTATION OF AID -FOR-TRADE WORK ACTIVITIES  
I. RESOURCE MOBILIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES  
4.  Under this agenda item, the multilateral development banks reported on their latest 
Aid-for-Trade activities.  
5.  Statement by the African Development Bank  (AfDB ): 
6.  While the world is recovering from the COVID -19 pandemic that caused unprecedented hu man 
and economic losses, the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine created yet another crisis that 
is disrupting growth prospects of the African continent with increases in energy, food prices, and 
rising inflation.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  7.  These crises have put a great stre ss on international supply chains and overall trade. Ukraine 
and Russia supply 30 percent of the world’s wheat, 20 percent of the world’s potash –a key nutrient 
for fertilizer, and nearly 50 percent of blended fertilizer. As a result of the conflict, wheat prices have 
soared by 50 percent, and fertilizer is three to four times more expensive than in 2020.  
8.  This background highlights the fragile, yet critical importance of international trade, and the need 
to invest and build a more resilient trading system through the Aid -for-Trade initiative. This is even 
more critical in Africa with the start of trading und er the African Continental Free Trade Agreement 
(AfCFTA).   
African Development Bank’s emergency food production plan for Africa  
 
9.  In the wake of such crises, especially the food crisis, the Bank has embarked on bold initiatives 
to build the resilience of Af rica’s food systems, strengthen economies,  and stimulate regional 
integration and trade, particularly under the AfCFTA.  
10.  The Bank is implementing its Feed Africa Strategy (FAS) for agricultural transformation in Africa 
(2016 -2025) and has invested more tha n USD 7 billion since it was launched and has reach over 
74 million farmers. In 2022, the Bank created the African Emergency Food Production Facility 
(AEFPF) as a short -term intervention to raise the production of wheat, maize, rice, and soybean to 
compens ate for the supply deficits due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  
11.  The African Development Bank Group is investing USD 1.5 billion in the Facility, USD  1.3 billion 
from the A fDB and the African Development Fund ( ADF) resources, with the remaining being 
mobil ized from partners globally, such as the African Union, regional economic commissions, 
multilateral development banks, Rome -based United Nations agencies, and other partners, including 
private foundations.  
12.  The Facility focuses on three areas: delivering ce rtified seeds, fertilizer, and extension services 
to 20 million farmers, using innovation as well as internet and communications technology platforms; 
providing financing and credit guarantees for the large -scale supply of fertilizer to wholesalers and 
aggregators; and supporting policy reform facilitating modern inputs getting to farmers, including 
strengthening national institutions overseeing input markets.  
13.  With respect to delivering agricultural technologies for increased food production, AEFPF is 
building on the Bank’s experience with Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), 
especially the various cereal compacts that deal with grains, as well as with the Africa Fertilizer 
Financing Mechanism (AFFM). Some of the more specific interv entions of TAAT within the context of 
AEFPF consist of: providing technical specifications for the supply and quality assurance of certified 
seeds; providing high quality climate -resilient seed varieties adaptable to agro -ecological zones of 
the RMCs; and contributing to developing the seed roadmaps and upgrading the skills of the seed 
technicians of private enterprises and national certified first -generation climate -resilient seed 
production and management programmes.  
14.  In reinforcing the private sector’ s importance in Africa’s agricultural sector, the Bank’s Africa 
Fertilizer Financing Mechanism (AFFM), through the AEFPF, is working with the private sector, in 
making inroads to enhance fertilizers access to farmers. In the AEFPF, the AFFM is specifically  
providing technical support for the implementation of the component on fertilizer financing in 
different countries, more particularly on the use of AFFM’s trade credit guarantees to deliver fertilizer 
needs to importers, aggregators, and other large users . Under the AEFPF, AFFM is targeting to deliver 
451,571 MT of fertilizer to 3,210,713 farmers by 2024.  
15.  To date, the Bank has approved USD 1.545 billion for 351 RMCs and 2 multinational operations, 
with an additional 4 operations being processed in 2023. O ther development partners, including 
 
1 35 RMCs with approved AEFPF operations: Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Sudan, Somalia, Comoros, 
Burundi, Uganda, Eswatini, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria (with 2 operations), Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, 
Cameroon, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Gambia, Togo, Niger, Liberia, Ghana, 
Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, DRC, CAR, Ch ad, Guinea; and 2 multinational 
operations (for TAAT II in RDGW and another in RDGE covering Burundi, Comoros, Somalia and South Sudan) . WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  Japan, Norway, the Republic of Germany, Netherlands, and United States of America contributed 
another USD 300 million in support of AEFPF operations.  
16.  Approvals for Feed Africa amounted to USD 1.77 billion, a substantial  increase (48 %) over the 
2021 approved amount of USD 1.20 billion. The approvals included:  
• The Support Programme for Competitive and Resilient Development of Cereals Farming in 
Morocco (EUR 199 million, an A fDB loan) aims to improve productivity and build the resilience 
of the national cereal industry in efforts to guarantee food and nutrition security in the 
short term and reduce dependence on cereal imports in the medium and long term. The 
expected outcomes are to improve the techni cal and economic performance of the sector and 
build resilience by strengthening sector governance, supporting the sector's stakeholders, 
and adapting to climate change.  
 
• The Support to National Agricultural Growth Scheme –Agro-Pocket Project in Nigeria 
(USD 134 million, an A fDB loan) aims to build the resilience of farming livelihoods and 
increase food and nutrition security. Its goals are to improve the performance of agricultural 
sector institutions, enhance private sector participation in the input produ ction and 
distribution system, particularly the wheat value chain. It targets increasing the use of 
high-quality fertilizers and agrochemicals and certified climate -resilient seed varieties. The 
expected outcomes are higher farming productivity and greater  cereal and oil grains 
production.  
 
• The Emergency Food Production Enhancement Project in Madagascar (USD 20 million, of 
which USD 12 million is an ADF grant, USD 4.3 million a Total Social Financing ( TSF) loan, 
and a USD 3.5 million TSF grant) aims to increase cereal and oilseed production to enhance 
food security in Madagascar by improving the productivity and production of rice, wheat, 
soybeans, and groundnuts as well as the access by the population to g ood-quality food 
products. The expected outcomes are greater access to inputs, agricultural services, and 
markets for small -scale producers and better governance and sustainability in agricultural 
production by encouraging the development of a local agro -industry.  
 
• The multinational Strengthening Emergency Preparedness and Response to Food Crisis 
Project (USD 10.8 million TSF grants, of which USD 2.6 million to Burundi, USD 2.6 million 
to Comoros, USD 2.7 million to Somalia, and USD 2.7 million to South Su dan)  
17.  In addition, the Bank approved two Special Agro -Industrial Processing Zone projects. One is 
the Integrated Agricultural and Agro -Industrial Growth Cluster Programme in South 
Madagascar  - Phase 1 (USD 16.6 million, of which USD 9 million ADF loan and USD 8 million 
ADF grant). The other is the Centre Agro -Industrial Processing Zone Project in Senegal 
(EUR 63.6 million A fDB loan). The Bank also approved additional ADF financing (USD 3 million) for 
the Special Agro -Industrial Processing Zone project in Li beria.  
African Development Bank’s Dakar 2 Summit – Feed Africa – Food Sovereignty and 
Resilience  
18.  In January 2023, the AfDB held the Dakar 2 Summit on the theme of Food Sovereignty and 
Resilience. The Summit’s objective was to:  
• Mobilize high -level political  commitment around production, markets and trade to 
deliver  Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts  for selected countries.  
• Mobilize and align government resources, development partners and private sector financing 
around the Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts to achieve food security at scale in each 
country.  
• Share successful experiences on food and agriculture in selected countries and successful 
platforms to scale up support for agriculture.  
• Double agricultural productivity with state-of-the-art, climate -adapted crop, livestock and 
aquaculture technology and advisory services and support research and development for a 
pipeline of climate resilient agricultural technologies.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  • Develop necessary infrastructure and logistics with Speci al Agro -Industrial Processing Zones 
to build markets and competitive food and agriculture value chains.  
19.  In Dakar, the leaders agreed to allocate at least 10% of public expenditure to increase funding 
for agriculture. They also resolved to deploy robust pro duction packages to boost productivity and 
increase resilience to achieve food sovereignty. An important outcome of the summit was the 
endorsement of the Country Food and Agriculture Delivery Compacts. The final declaration stated 
that these are prepared a nd owned by African countries, and “convey the vision, challenges, and 
opportunities in agricultural productivity, infrastructure, processing and value addition, markets and 
financing that will accelerate the implementation of the African Union’s Comprehen sive Africa 
Agriculture Development Program (CAADP)”.   
20.  The results of the Feed Africa operations completed in 2022 were:  
• 2.9 million people  benefited from improvements in agriculture, of whom 1.4 million are 
women.  
• 1,682 km  of feeder roads built or rehabil itated.  
• 11,100 ha  of land with improved water management.  
• 2,605 tons of agricultural inputs provided (fertilizer, seeds, etc.).  
Institutional and Capacity Building for greater and inclusive trade  
 
21.  In addition to its Feed Africa “Hi -5s”, the Bank has a stro ng record on building foundations to 
scale up intra -African trade and industrial development to accelerate economic growth and eradicate 
poverty. Below are some accomplishments in the area of trade capacity development to drive greater 
integration and trad e: 
1. Multinational Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project - USD 7.9 million (ADF  Grant) . The 
Lobito Corridor Trade Facilitation Project (LCTFP) is a multinational trade facilitation project 
being implemented by both Zambia and Angola with spill overs  to the Democratic Republic 
of Congo (DRC). The LCTFP seeks to accelerate growth in domestic and cross -border trade 
along the Lobito Corridor through implementation of harmonized trade facilitation 
instruments. Its other objective is to strengthen coordination  of joint corridor development 
activities and fostering intra -African trade through effective participation of small and 
medium enterprises (SMEs) in value chains and corridor trade.  
2. Multinational Harmonization and Certification of African Standards for Da iry, Horticulture, 
Fisheries and Aquaculture Products USD 2.6 million (ADF Grant) . The project seeks to 
address and minimize the technical barriers to trade across -RMCs’ borders through the 
harmonization and certification of African standards on commonly t raded goods i.e., for 
dairy, horticulture, fisheries, and aquaculture products. Proliferation of diverse national 
technical standards and certification requirements have been identified as a formidable 
barrier to intra -African trade hence the added value o f the project.  
3. East African Community ( EAC) Capacity Building Project USD 10.6 million (ADF  Grant) . The 
project seeks to strengthen the EAC  Secretariat’s capacity for effective integration. The 
project will support interventions to improve market access for goods, services, and 
movement of people in the EAC through addressing challenges of weak REC  capacity, tackle 
persistent barriers to the efficient movement of goods and services across borders. The 
project will also support interventions to strengthen the EAC institutional capacities through 
the development/upgrading of systems reform and improve organizational effectiveness.  
4. Institutional Support Project AFCFTA Secretariat (Phase II) USD 11.2 million (ADF  Grant) . 
The project aims at scaling up the effective implementation of the AfCFTA to enhance intra -
Africa trade and RMCs’ share of intra -Africa trade. The Institutional Support will enable  the 
AfCFTA Secretariat and RMCs (with particular focus on transition countries), to streamline 
and embed national and regional trade policy -related initiatives and move forward the 
African trade integration agenda through the effective implementation of t he AfCFTA.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  5. Corridor Development and Trade Facilitation Project (Phase I) USD 6.6 million (ADF  Loan) . 
The Corridor Development and Trade Facilitation Project (Phase I) objective is to develop 
the country's trade relations with the rest of the world. This pr oject aims to develop the 
productivity of SMEs and strengthen food safety and speed up the conditions for importing 
and exporting products at borders,  as well as the modernization of customs.  
6. Multinational: Madagascar -Port de Beira: Corridor Development an d Trade Facilitation 
Project (Phase II) USD 14.6 million (ADF Loan) . The project particularly aims at 
strengthening the initiatives undertaken in the first with the objective this time of providing 
the country with a national quality policy strategy and a national control laboratory which 
facilitates and secures trade in country with the rest of the world. The project also aims to 
strengthen institutional and structural capacities at the borders to provide more security and 
speed in cross -border trade as we ll as the development of competition policy to push the 
market opening process to the maximum.  
7. Multinational – Institutional Support to  the Economic Community of Central African States(  
ECCAS ) for the Implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement U SD 2.6 million 
(TSF Pillar III Grant) . The project’s objective is to stimulate trade and competitiveness in 
order to contribute to inclusive growth in ECCAS member countries. The project will enhance 
the capacities of the ECCAS Commission regarding trade f acilitation and enhance its role of 
coordinating regional policy, and support the capacity building of National Trade Facilitation 
Committees (NTFC) in ECCAS member countries in implementing the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement (TFA) in Central Africa.  
The Africa Trade Fund – Unlocking Africa’s trade potential  
22.  The Africa Trade Fund is a CAD 15 million Single Donor Fund (Canada) managed by the African 
Development Bank with the objective of building a competitive African economy that is regionally 
and globally  integrated. To achieve this, the Africa Trade Fund supported the delivery of Aid for 
Trade to RMCs to improve supply -side capacity of producers and traders. The Africa Trade Fund has 
four pillars – Trade facilitation; Developing products and markets; Buil ding capacity for institutions; 
Growing the Bank’s knowledge to deliver. As of December 2022, the Fund supported 26 projects led 
by 25 institutions (7 Africa -wide institutions, 5 regional bodies, 8 government agencies, 
3 not-for-profit organizations, 2 private sector alliances), with 16 low -income economies benefiting, 
one third of projects focusing on empowering women.  
23.  The African Development Bank is seeking to mobilize additional resources to transform or 
establish a new Multi -Donor Trust Fund to scale -up technical assistance, institutional strengthening, 
and functional capacity development support to expand regional, continental, and international trade 
of Regional Member Countries (RMCs). Most importantly, the Fund will seek t o coordinate 
institutional approach and strategy to advance the preparedness and delivery of RMC actions in the 
implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area agreement (AfCFTA).   
Conclusion  
24.  In conclusion, the AfDB  reiterate d the Bank 's firm com mitment to work with development 
partners, governments, and the private sector to mobilize the resources needed to boost agricultural 
production, food security, and better connect Africa to regional and global markets. We remain 
dedicated to scaling up Aid -for-Trade to enable RMCs to invest in their trade and investment climate 
ecosystems and improve Africa’s trade and production structure.  
_______________  
 
25.  Statement by the  Asian Development Bank (AsDB ): 
26.  Trade growth in developing Asia in 2022 remained resi lient amid multiple challenges. The  revival 
of exports from developing Asia observed in the first half of 2022 was offset by weaker exports in 
the second half of the year as demand for electronics slowed and commodity prices declined. The 
decline was parti cularly steep for the region’s key technology exporters as semiconductor exports 
slumped. In the meantime, exports of machinery and vehicles were resilient, cushioning the overall 
decline.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  27.  For this year, 2023, and the next , 2024, growth in developing Asia is forecast at 4.8%. This is 
0.6 percentage point higher than last year. Inflation is forecast to moderate this year and next, from 
4.4% in 2022 to 4.2% in 2023 and 3.3% in 2024, gradually moving closer to pre -pandemic averages.  
28.  While indic ators of business conditions in early 2023 signal improving demand for manufactured 
goods and services in several economies in the region possibly from the second half of this year, 
policy makers should yet remain vigilant given the prospect of global econ omic slowdown pressuring 
external demand, continue supporting multilateralism, and lean against the risks of global fracturing.  
29.  As detailed in our annual report, recently released on 24 April, A sDB committed USD 20.5 billion 
in loans, grants, equity invest ments, guarantees, and technical assistance in 2022. In addition, 
USD 11.4 billion were mobilized in co -financing, demonstrating the vital role of partnerships. Let me 
give you few examples relevant for the Aid -for-Trade work program.  
30.  As food insecurity in tensified significantly during the year, 32% of A sDB’s commitments in 2022 
contributed to promote rural development and Food Security in Asia and the Pacific, which is one of 
the 7 operational priorities of A sDB’s strategy 2030.  
31.  In Sri Lanka, for example,  food price inflation and a broader economic crisis exposed an 
estimated 8.2 million people to the prospect of having inadequate food. In Pakistan and Afghanistan, 
extreme floods and drought contributed to soaring prices of staple items. In Southeast Asia,  a total 
of 100 million people in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Viet Nam were estimated 
to be food insecure in 2022.  
32.  Responding to this region -wide crisis, A sDB announced a USD 14 billion package of support to 
strengthen food security between 2022 and 2025, committing USD 3.7 billion in 2022. This financing 
delivered essential food relief for people most in need and supported longer -term investments in 
more sustainable, productive, and climate -resilient food systems.  
33.  Examples include e mergency assistance in Sri Lanka with a component to offset rising 
agricultural production costs and encourage food production; support for climate -resilient coastal 
and marine fishing in Cambodia, benefiting 20,000 households; and loans to bolster food pr oduction 
for about 7,000 farmers and agribusinesses in the Kyrgyz Republic.  
34.  Deepening regional cooperation and integration remains a priority for A sDB, which can also help 
facilitate cross -border connectivity and trade. Twenty -four percent ( 24%) of the 20 22 commitments 
contributed to this goal, crucial to help developing member countries ( DMCs ) become more 
economically resilient. A sDB financed initiatives in transport connectivity, trade facilitation, and 
regional information sharing across Asia and the Pa cific. Let me give you three examples:  
35.  The Bank invested in a project to link Bangladesh with India’s north -eastern  region, 
strengthening the former as a trade hub and improving the latter’s access to Southeast Asian and 
global markets.  
36.  As part of broader regional knowledge sharing, A sDB released a report exploring how Asia and 
the Pacific can capitalize on growing opportunities in digital services through international 
cooperation.  
37.  The Bank also published guidance notes on planning, pre paring, and implementing national 
single windows, which enable traders and transport providers to interact efficiently with cross -border 
regulatory agencies, and on facilitating trade in vaccines and essential medical supplies.  
38.  In non -sovereign operations,  to ensure business continuity amidst numerous challenges, A sDB's 
Trade and Supply Chain Finance Program (TSCFP) committed USD 2.6 billion in 2022, including 
USD 530 million to underpin food security by enabling trade that supported farmers across Asia and  
the Pacific. In Sri Lanka, to ensure continued imports of essential goods such as fertilizers and 
medical supplies, transactions were executed under the TSCFP Emergency Trade Finance Facility, 
allowing to repurpose more than USD 110.4 million from soverei gn loan projects that were facing 
implementation difficulties during the crisis.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  39.  Finally, let me also reiterate that A sDB is committed to promoting digital connectivity and 
services across Asia and the Pacific. As an illustration, on 3rd May, A sDB signed a  strategic 
agreement involving a USD 100 million replenishment by the Republic of Korea of the A sDB-managed 
e-Asia and Knowledge Partnership Fund, aiming to promote information and communication 
technology (ICT), social development, knowledge sharing, and to reduce the divide in accessing 
digital services.  The AsDB is also commissioning numerous  studies on e -commerce, digital trade and 
economy.  
40.  The AsDB invite d Members  to consult  the AsDB's annual report for further details , and concluded 
by looking forward to continuing working with this Committee and supporting the Aid -for-Trade 
Initiative.  
_____________  
 
41.   Statement by the  Inter-American Development Bank (IaDB ): 
42.  The Inter -American Development Bank (I aDB) plays an active role in the analysis and fin ancing, 
national and regional, public and private, of activities aimed at promoting and facilitating trade and 
investment in the Bank's Latin American and Caribbean member countries.  
43.  At the beginning of 2023, the I aDB renewed its commitment to address as a priority:  
• Social issues, including poverty, inclusion, inequality, health needs and food insecurity, in 
order to contribute to improving the situation of the 200 million people in the region who 
live in poverty and the 60 million who suffer from hunger.  
• Climate change, including facilitating investment in climate mitigation and adaptation, to 
help countries meet their Paris Agreement targets.  
• Boosting regional integration through sustainable physical and digital infrastructure.  
44.  In particular, in addition to managing a portfolio of more than 40 lending operations directly 
associated with the themes listed in the first bullet point (for amounts exceeding US D 5 billion ), 
since our last update to the Committee, the IaDB has  undertaken a number of supporting actions, 
including the following:  
Recent Loan Operations  
45.  The following loan operations were recently approved:  
• Honduras, US D 50 million , Institutional and Operational Strengthening of the Customs 
Administration.  
• Colombia,  USD 200 million, Integration in Global Value Chain s. 
• Belize, US D 8 million, Trade and Investment Facilitation.  
46.  Work is currently underway with 4 other Latin American and Caribbean countries to prepare 
trade and investment support operations to be approved  by 2023.  
Applied research  
 
47.  The IaDB has  launched a call for proposals to finance research on trade and environment, in 
order to generate diagnoses and specific intervention proposals in three thematic areas: (i) 
environmental goods and services and produc tive/export supply; (ii) trade policy and environmental 
bias; and (iii)  energy transition and international insertion.  
Regional Public Goods and integration initiatives  
 
48.  The IaDB launched the 2023 call for proposals under the Initiative for the Promotion of Regional 
Public Goods ( RPGs) in Latin America and the Caribbean, which supports regional projects between 
three or more countries. In 2023, the RPG Initiative will fund regiona l coordination proposals aligned 
with one or more of the following four priority areas: (i) education and health to reduce poverty and 
inequality; (ii) food security, including the dimensions of access, productivity and trade; (iii) climate 
change mitigati on and adaptation and supporting countries to meet their Paris Agreement targets; WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  and (iv) regional integration in sustainable physical and digital infrastructure to boost trade and 
productivity.  Proposals that additionally address gender and inclusion iss ues will be considered 
positively. The RPG Initiative provides non -reimbursable financing for solutions to shared 
development challenges through regional cooperation among at least three I aDB borrowing member 
countries. Since 2005, the RPG Initiative has f inanced more than 200 projects, investing a total of 
nearly USD 150 million.  
Strategic support to the Amazon region  
49.  The IaDB, in collaboration with the countries of the region and other donors, promotes regional 
integration to improve coordination and cohe rence. The Amazon biome spans eight countries and its 
conservation affects the entire planet, so only collective action can be effective . In this context, 
support is provided to countries and subnational entities in the Amazon territory, particularly for 
high-impact investments and informed policies to close the connectivity gap, promote business and 
ensure inclusion. In addition, the I aDB promotes dialogue with indigenous peoples, local 
communities and Afro -descendants.  
Outsourcing of digital services (O2L AC) 
50.  The I aDB and the Government of Jamaica are organising the 9th edition of the leading digital 
and knowledge -based services export event in Latin America and the Caribbean: the Outsource2LAC 
2023 Summit, which will bring together more than 400 public and private stakeholders from over 
40 countries on 14 -15 June in Mon tego Bay, Jamaica. The summit seeks to disseminate cutting -edge 
knowledge and promote business among participating companies in areas such as software 
development, automation, e -commerce, video games, AgTech, Fintech, emerging technologies such 
as artifici al intelligence, augmented reality and cloud computing, among others. The event has been 
held since 2011 in seven cities in the region, facilitating more than 11,000 one -on-one meetings and 
a projected future business volume of more than US D 300 million.  
_____________  
 
51.  Statement by the  European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD ): 
52.  In 2023, the EBRD has continued to work with its partners to support the resilience of global 
trade, leveraging its long track -record of promoting trade and sustainable  growth and focusing on a 
broad geography covering 37 economies in Emerging Europe, Central Asia and Southern and Eastern 
Mediterranean.  
53.  Under its Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) EBRD strengthens the ability of local banks to 
provide trade financing and  giving entrepreneurs the support they need to increase their access to 
their import and export trade. At present there are 100+ issuing banks in 26 countries participating 
in the TFP, working with over 800+ confirming banks and their subsidiaries througho ut the world. 
Issuing banks in the region participate in the TFP with total limits in excess of €3 billion. In 2022, 
EBRD’s trade facilitation programme supported €3.6 billion of foreign trade with and between EBRD 
countries of operation.  
54.  Since the war started in February 2022, trade flows and supply chains in Ukraine, including 
agricultural value chains have been severely disrupted. The effect on the financial intermediation is 
significant; foreign commercial banks stopped taking any direc t risk on Ukrainian trade finance 
transactions. To tackle this issue, the TFP significantly increased its headroom for Ukrainian banks. 
Since February 2022 the TFP has supported over €459 million in trade transactions for the most 
crucial goods for the Ukr ainian economy, such as the import of agricultural machinery and fertilisers.  
55.  In May 2023 TFP has won Global Trade Review’s Best Deal of 2022 Award for a project 
supporting the import of agricultural machinery in Ukraine. Global Trade Review is an importa nt 
news source and publisher for the global trade, commodity, export and supply -chain finance 
industries. In May 2022, the EBRD rolled over a €4 million guarantee, allowing LLC Technotorg, a 
key distributor of agricultural machinery in Ukraine, to continue  importing goods into the country. 
The deal is included in the portfolio of transactions covered by the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund. 
It was completed and extended in the face of significant political and economic trade barriers. WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  Benefits of the deal incl uded: meeting the supply needs of Ukrainian farmers at the peak of Russia’s 
invasion of Ukraine and ensuring that Ukrainian farmers were equipped to farm and harvest.   
56.  In February 2023,  the EBRD and Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency of the World Ban k 
Group (MIGA) announced a landmark agreement in which MIGA will issue up to USD 200 million in 
trade finance guarantees to EBRD to support trade transactions conducted through state -owned 
banks in emerging market and developing economies, with Ukraine bei ng the first country to benefit 
from this support. The MIGA guarantees, which will be issued over a period of up to six years, will 
serve to increase EBRD capacity in select markets by covering the risk of non -payment by 
state-owned banks.  In Ukraine, the imports enabled by the new MIGA -EBRD partnership will serve 
humanitarian needs and help keep industries like agriculture going while providing critical imports 
needed for production.  
57.  The EBRD also supports food net -importing countries in their response to the food security 
crisis, especially in the Southern -Mediterranean region. The investments help to meet liquidity needs 
for the procurement of imported agricultural commodities, as a result of rising food prices, reduced 
and uncertain supplies from the Bla ck Sea region, which are exacerbated also by foreign 
exchange -related movements in some countries.  
58.  The Bank extends finance to SME clients operating in the agribusiness sector across its mandate 
region,  for example through the Risk Sharing Framework (RSF)  with local partner banks. These 
arrangements help to reach small producers that can play an important role in global food security. 
One such client is a leading processor and exporter of pulses (lentils, peas, chickpeas and beans) in 
Kyrgyz Republic. The company was supported initially through business advice under EBRD’s Advice 
for Small Businesses programme and more recently via investments under the Risk Sharing 
Framework. This in turn has helped the company to grow and secure stable deliveries to the W orld 
Food Programme (WFP), of which it is an official supplier.  
59.  In 2022, the EBRD launched  the Supply Chain Solutions Framework . This instrument enables 
the Bank to leverage the creditworthiness of larger corporates to provide suppliers with better access  
to working capital finance, facilitating their integration into global supply chains.  The EBRD 
complements its engagement in supply chain finance space with its ability to leverage donor funding 
that facilitates the rollout of sustainable supply chain fin ance (“SSCF”) programmes. Here suppliers, 
including SMEs, receive financial incentives for meeting defined sustainability -linked targets and 
criteria. The EBRD also facilitates the delivery of advisory solutions  under this new framework , which 
helps  SME su ppliers improve their  environmental, social and governance credentials, while also 
providing them with the digital tools and capacity they require to access supply chain finance, 
contributing to  materially improving  their resilience and competitiveness  levels in an increasingly 
digitalised global economy.  
60.  In line with its private sector focus EBRD also provides advisory services to small and 
medium -sized businesses looking to start or expand their exports and imports. In 2022 alone, the 
Bank reached out to over 2,100 SMEs through SME advisory projects and over 100,000 SMEs and 
individual entrepreneurs took advantage of various digital products, inclu ding via digital platforms.  
61.  The EBRD has repurposed its advisory support to Ukrainian businesses in extremely challenging 
circumstances – to provide SMEs with targeted support as a war response including  relocation 
assistance, supporting the relocation of  SMEs to safer territories with additional advisory support  for 
business re -establishment in Western Ukraine or other EBRD countries of operation. One such 
example is the Bank’s client “Kyiv Crane Machinery Plant” (KCMP), a machinery manufacturer with 
close to 100 employees, which was under threat of shelling near the Boryspil airport. With the help 
of the EBRD, the company relocated in the spring of 2022. The Bank assisted the client through an 
international advisory project that improved operations and he lped the company enter new markets.  
62.  To further support the exporters and businesses with export potential the EBRD put the 
emphasis on supporting participation at international fairs and exhibitions in combination with 
business matching activities  – e.g. a t MICAM (shoe manufacturers) in Italy, Maison & Objet (design 
furniture and accessories) in France, Brussels Fashion Week in Belgium, and Biofach (organic 
products) in Germany.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  63.  Through its Business Development Matching Programme (BDM) the EBRD successfully  enables 
SME enterprise management to participate in international trade fairs and expos in order to establish 
business opportunities, creating links with peer companies in the same industry, facilitating the 
exchange of knowledge and fostering potential i mport/export links, as well as franchising 
opportunities. In 2022, as part of the overall BDM activity, two visits were organised: the BDM in 
Japan, with SMEs participants visiting the Japan International Apparel Machinery & Textile Industry 
Trade Show (JI AM); and the BDM in Italy, with representatives of SMEs attending to the International 
Exposition of Machinery for Agriculture and Gardening (EIMA) International Fair. The SMEs 
benefitting from the programme had the possibility to develop their business li nks and explore new 
trade opportunities. In 2023, the EBRD remains deeply committed to supporting international trade 
and food security.  
64.  In reaction to the statements made by International Financial Institutions (IFIs), t he 
representative of the  European Union (EU) thanked all multilateral development bank s for their 
activities in relation to Aid for Trade.  Then, he reiterated the EU's support to Ukraine and to all net 
food importing developing countries.  
65.  The representative of Ukraine  provided its  reaction by confirming the figures  communicated by 
the EBRD  in relation to the damage to Ukraine's agricultural sector caused by  the war surpa ssed 
USD 7 billion with indirect losses estimated at some USD  35 billion – figures that were continuously 
growing . She also lamented that the blocking of Ukraine's sea export s was detrimental to global 
food security, particularly for LDCs  and net food impo rting countries. She also expressed  
appreciation for the technical assistance received by Ukrainian farmers and her govern ment during 
difficult times.  
_______________  
 
66.  Statement by the  World Bank Group (WBG ): 
67.  The representative of the World Bank  share d key trade -related takeaways from the recent 
Spring meetings of the World Bank and the I nternational Monetary Fund and point ed delegates in 
the direction of recent World Bank publications addressing issues of cent ral relevance to the 
Committee  on Trade and Development Aid for Trade:  
World Bank -IMF Spring Meetings  
 
68.  At their latest Spring meeting held just over a month ago, WBG -IMF management and 
shareholders pledged to explore new solutions to tackle an ever -presen t set of threats to 
development and the lives of the poor: from stress in the banking sector and persistent inflation to 
rising debt, the war in  Ukraine, food insecurity, SDG slippage and the mounting dangers of climate 
change.  
69.  A few numbers Chair illustrate the sobering reality of the development context we confront in 
a poly -crisis challenged world:  
• The global extreme poverty rate has risen from 8.4% to 9.3% in the past few years, with 
more than 700 million people today living  on less than USD 2.15 a day. This remains our 
top priority and represents a two -decade regression in the fight against extreme poverty .  
• But it’s not only the extreme poor that we should be concerned with, as no less than 47% 
of the world’s population sti ll live at or below USD 6.85 a day -- < USD 2500/year; a level 
where too many difficult trade -off decisions need to be made by households every day.  
• The world also faces a food security crisis,  with 670 million people, equivalent to 8% of the 
world’s popu lation, expected to be undernourished by the end of this decade, a level 
unchanged since 2015 when the SDG 2 calling for zero hunger was set.  
• The world also faces a learning crisis,  with 70% of children in low -and middle -income 
countries – and 91% in low -income countries alone - not able to read and understand a 
short story, compared to 57% pre -COVID.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  70.  Not surprisingly, the April 12th statement  issued by  the Chair of the Development Committee 
noted that achieving the WB’s twin goals of ending extreme poverty and promoting shared prosperit y 
required a strong focus on sustainability, resilience, and inclusiveness. The meeting welcomed 
proposals to strengthen the WBG's operational model and financial capacity to help achieve its 
mission. Simply put: multilateral and regional development banks  need to leverage their balance 
sheets more aggressively to scale up the financial resources needed to tackle the multiplicity of 
shocks the world economy has absorbed in recent years and that we know it will confront in the 
years ahead.  
71.  With developing c ountry debt at a 50 -year high, the issue of debt sustainability was a 
centrepiece  of the Spring meetings. As slowing global growth and rising interest rates push more 
countries into debt crises, efforts to defuse the crisis have so far proven insufficient, pointing to the 
urgency of greater debt transparency and faster workout agreements to the need for reforms that 
equip countries to manage debt more effectively and generate the resources need to place countries 
on a sustainable financial path . Working to boost trade expansion forms an important part of this 
equation.  
72.  Combating the climate crisis was another key focus at the Spring Meetings. The World Bank 
Group's role in providing direct support, managing, implementing, and verifying the clima te impact 
of its projects will be critical moving forward. For those of us assembled here today, this begs the 
question of the role that can be assigned to trade, and thus to the WTO, in accelerating work tackling 
the most existential of challenges facing the global commons, not least that of harnessing cross 
border exchanges to reduce the cost of – and broaden access to - the goods, services, technologies 
and ideas that will be needed to adapt to and mitigate the effects of a changing climate.  
73.  A further f ocus of the Spring meeting was on empowering women entrepreneurs and the 
importance of mobilizing private capital for sustainable development.  Recalling the relevance of 
ongoing discussions held in this house on gender, MSMEs and A4T, discussions stressed the 
importance of expanding access to finance for women -led businesses and recognizing the role 
women play in addressing global challenges. A particular focus was placed on the need to upskill 
women so they are not left behind amid rapid change in technolo gy. On private capital, discussions 
focused on how best to disseminate financial innovations to facilitate the mobilization of private 
finance, a critical challenge at a time of mounting fiscal pressures and competing claims on 
aid - including A4T, among l eading donors. These are issues at the core of this organization’s and 
indeed this Committee’s work.  
74.  The question from this Committee’s vantage point is what stepped up cooperation in trade can 
do to arrest and reverse the worrisome trends depicted above. How, for instance, can food security 
considerations provide an anchor for steering agricultural negotiations in new directions? How can 
trade engagement help tackle the digital divides holding back the productive use of digital 
technologies and solutions f or innovation, inclusivity and for learning?  
75.  Chair, trade all too often appears as a self -contained end in itself in this building. Negotiators 
need to be reminded, notably by this Committee, how trade is a means to more important 
ends - those of poverty alleviation, the creation of more productive jobs, inclusive growth, social 
progress, in a word, of  development.  
Recent World Bank publications of relevance to the CTD’s work program  
 
76.  Falling Long -Term Growth Prospects: Trends, Expectations and Policies  explores  how we should 
be concerned that nearly all the forces that have powered growth and prosperity since the early 
1990s, includ ing cross -border trade and investment, have weakened. Across the world, a structural 
growth slowdown is underway, such that, at current trends, global potential growth  - the maximum 
growth the global economy can sustain over the longer term without igniting inflation  - is expected 
to fall to a three -decade low over the remainder of the 2020s. The growth rates of investment and 
total factor productivity are declining. The global labo ur force is aging and expanding more slowly. 
In addition, a series of  shocks has roiled the global economy in recent years, heightening the risks 
of fragmentation and reduced allocative efficiency.  
77.  Chair, this publication makes for sobering analysis, as a persistent and  broad -based decline in 
long-term growth prospects imp erils the ability of emerging market and developing economies to WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  combat poverty, tackle climate change, and meet other key development objectives. These 
challenges call for an ambitious policy response at the national and global levels, including by 
harnes sing trade as an engine of sustainable and inclusive growth. Bold policy actions at the national 
level will need to be supported by increased cross -border cooperation and substantial financing 
(including stepped up levels of A4T) from the global community.   
78.  The WBG representative  would like to draw the attention of Members to two chapters (6 and 7) 
of the book that specifically explore how trade on the one hand, and services on the other (including 
digitalization), can help arrest and arrest the above trend s. Chair, if you allow me a slight 
info-mercialism breach, I wish to inform CTD members that the topic of Services Trade for 
Development is one on which the WB and the WTO will soon be releasing a joint study detailing an 
A4T agenda in services trade liabl e to boost international cooperation and revive long dormant 
market opening discussions in a sector that in all economies, developed and developing, produces 
most jobs, particularly for women and young workers, involves the bulk of MSMEs and accounts for 
half of world trade when measured as it should in value added terms.  
79.  A second recent World Bank publication - Digital Africa: Technological Transformation for Jobs , 
recalls how a ll African countries need better and more jobs for their growing populations  and makes 
the case for putting digital technologies at the centre  of a good -jobs strategy for the continent . The 
report shows that broader use of productivity -enhancing, digital technologies by enterprises and 
households is imperative to creating inclusive jog gains, including for lower -skilled people. It also 
recalls the facilitating and competition -enhancing role that trade – and the trade talks at play in this 
Committee and organization, and in settings such as the African Continental Free Trade Area, can 
and must play to move the African jobs needle in the right direction.   
80.  But these outcomes are not automatic, h owever. While mobile internet availability has increased 
throughout the continent in recent years, Africa’s uptake gap remains the highest in the world. Areas 
with at least 3G mobile internet service now cover 84 percent of Africa’s population, but only 
one in 5 African (22 percent) makes use of such services. And the average African business lags in 
the use of smartphones and computers as well as more sophisticated digital technologies that 
catalyse  further productivity gains.  
81.  Among the issues that explai n the usage gap is one that trade policy is well -designed to 
address:  that of affordability by promoting more contestable markets for ICT services and digital 
trade. For the 40 percent of Africans below the extreme poverty line, mobile data plans alone abs orb 
one-third of their incomes —in addition to the price of access devices, apps, and electricity. Data 
plans for small - and medium -size businesses are also more expensive than in other regions.  
82.  Still, the African continent abounds in examples of countries  reaping significant development 
payoffs by increasing their use of digital technologies and services. The report adduces growing 
evidence that mobile internet availability directly raises enterprise productivity, increases jobs, and 
reduces poverty throug hout the continent. To realize these and other benefits more widely, African 
economies must implement complementary and mutually reinforcing policies – including in the realm 
of trade and investment policies - to reduce access and usage costs and the willi ngness of African 
consumers and enterprises to make greater use of digital technologies. These interventions must 
prioritize productive use to generate large numbers of inclusive jobs in a region poised to benefit 
from a massive youthful workforce —one proj ected to become the world’s largest by the end of this 
century.  
83.  Finally, allow me to draw the attention of CTD delegates to the 2023 edition of Women, Business 
and the Law , the ninth in a series of annual World Bank studies measuring the laws and regulations 
that affect women’s economic opportunity in 190  economies.  The report presents eight indicators 
structured around women’s interactions with the law as they move through their lives and careers: 
Mobility, Workplace, Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension. The 2023 
edition identifies barriers to women 's economic par ticipation and encourages reform of 
discriminatory laws. This year, the study also includes research, a literature review, and analysis of 
53 years of reforms for women’s rights. Examining the economic decisions that women make 
throughout their working liv es as well as tracking regulatory changes from 1970 to today, the report 
makes an important contribution to research and policy discussions about the state of women’s 
economic opportunities.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  84.  Chair, all of the above studies are already available on the Wor ld Bank website, and the joint 
WB-WTO study on Services Trade for Development will be once the report is launched in early July. 
I strongly encourage CTD members to download them and hope we can pursue discussions on the 
issues they take up in future Commi ttee meetings.  
85.  In response to the presentation by the representative of the World Bank, the Chair expressed 
appreciation for the contribution made by its representative and urged the participants to take note 
of the difference between the economic figures presented and the hypothetical figures in the absence 
of the crises. The chair then emphasized the significance of prioritizing the control of inflation as a 
means to address other economic priorities effectively.  
86.  The representative of the Russian Federati on shared their perspective by stating that there was 
a tendency within certain Western nations to attribute all their challenges to Russia, including 
accusations of causing global inflation. They expressed the view that this characterization could be 
seen as a display of cynicism, as developed countries consider money printing as the primary 
approach to address their significant debts. The representative suggested that this practice was a 
major contributing factor to the current state of world inflation. H e referred to his ambassador's 
intervention at the General Council of March, where the ambassador discussed what he perceived 
as short -sighted financial policies pursued by developed countries.  
87.  The representative of Ukraine  expressed appreciation for the s tatement made by the World 
Bank, as well as the technical assistance provided to their country.  
_______________  
88.   Under this agenda item , observer organizations provided an update on their Aid -for-Trade 
activities : 
Update  from  the Organisation for Economic Co -operation and Development ( OECD ) on 
Aid-for-Trade flows : 
89.  Following the presentation from the international financial institutions , in her intervention, the 
representative of the OECD  began by stating that her presentation contained provisional data as the 
OECD was still refining the methodology for calculating Aid for Trade, which meant that the figures 
including that of India were provisional.  
90.  She then released disaggregated 2021 Official Development Assistance (ODA) data, including 
provisional figures on Aid for Trade, and discussed the impact of recent crises on ODA levels and 
allocations. Specifically, she mentioned the increase in in -donor refugee co sts and humanitarian aid 
in 2022, as well as the vaccine donations and COVID -19 control efforts in 2021, which drove up ODA 
levels in 2022. Foreign aid from official donors reached a record high of USD 204 billion in 2022, up 
from USD 186 billion in 2021, primarily due to developed countries increasing their spending on 
processing and hosting refugees and providing aid to Ukraine.  
91.  Regarding disbursements, she noted that they decreased by 4.7% in real terms in 2021, mainly 
due to inflation. Since 2006, a tot al of USD 632 billion had been disbursed for Aid for Trade, with 
disbursements reaching USD 47.7 billion in 2021. This 4.7% decrease in real terms can be largely 
explained by inflation. Building productive capacity and economic infrastructure accounted for  
97% of the disbursements.  
92.  The evolution of commitments suggested that Aid-for-Trade flows were affected by recent 
crises. Commitments amounted to USD 52 billion in 2021, down from USD 67 billion ( -22%) in the 
previous year. Building productive capacity an d economic infrastructure accounted for 47% and 51% 
of the total commitments, respectively. The decrease in commitments in the Aid-for-Trade sectors 
corresponded approximately to increases in the health and humanitarian aid sectors. She 
emphasized that com mitments would be further analysed  over a longer period.  
93.  The speaker discussed the trends in Aid-for-Trade disbursements per sector, highlighting that 
transport and storage was the largest sector with USD 12 billion, followed by energy generation and 
suppl y with USD 11 billion. Disbursements for agriculture, forestry, and fishing (USD 9 billion) and 
banking and financial services (USD 6 billion) had decreased after a surge in 2020. Both sectors 
experienced a decline in COVID -19 related activities in 2021.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  94.  She mentioned that Africa was the primary recipient of Aid-for-Trade disbursements in 2021, 
receiving 40% of the total Aid-for-Trade flows, which was a slight increase from 2020. In comparison, 
total ODA for Africa in 2021 accounted for 36%. Asia was the se cond-largest recipient with 35% of 
Aid-for-Trade disbursements, followed by America (7%), Europe (6%), and Oceania (2%).  
95.  The representative  of the OECD  highlighted the decreasing support to Least Developed 
Countries (LDCs) and other Low -Income Countries, a s they received 28% of the total Aid-for-Trade 
disbursements, indicating a slight decline following global ODA trends. She emphasized the 
importance of sustaining efforts to support LDCs, in line with the SDG 8a target and the Doha 
Programme of Action. However, she noted that the terms of assistan ce were softening for LDCs, and 
trade-related Other Official Flows (OOF) were on a downward trend.  
96.  In conclusion, the speaker stated that Aid for Trade remained resilient overall. She outlined the 
impact of the 2021 crises on Aid for Trade and stressed the  importance for donors to balance 
short-term and long -term needs while ensuring a continued focus on LDCs.  
97.  The Chair emphasized that the decrease in financial flows was attributable to an extraordinary 
inflationary shock. Furthermore, the Chair highlighted  that the current trend indicated a softening in 
of terms in relation to the assistance provided , with grants surpassing loans specifically for the least 
developed countries.  
98.  The representative of India expressed appreciation  to the donors  for the increasi ng 
"concessionality " in Aid-for-Trade disbursements  and conveyed his readiness to participate in 
addressing concerns related to accounting and methodology for the upcoming flows in 2022. India 
suggested conducting an analysis of the flows in relation to the priorities of developing countries, 
with the aim of assessing whether the assistance provided effectively meets their needs.  
99.  The representative of Moldova  acknowledged the statements made by the EBRD, WBG, and 
OECD regarding the assistance provided to Moldova during these challenging times. Additionally, 
Moldova expressed solidarity and support for Ukraine, while condemning Russ ia's military actions. 
The economic repercussions of these conflicts had been  felt not only in Moldova but also globally. 
As a consequence, Moldova faced obstacles such as the loss of access to export routes with Asian 
partners. Traders experienced full or  partial closures, further exacerbated by inflation and significant 
price hikes exceeding 30%. Despite these challenges, Moldova had managed to provide support to 
refugees and expressed gratitude for the assistance received  from its international partners.  
100.  The representative of Nepal , on behalf of the LDCs, made the following statement : 
101.  The LDC Group wishes to express its sincere gratitude to the OECD for the informative and 
comprehensive presentation: these insights are of great value to us.  While we appre ciate the efforts 
of the international community in the context of Aid for Trade, the reduction of over 2  billion in global 
disbursements, going from 50.1 to 47.7 billion US dollars, from 2020 to 2021, is a disappointing 
fact.  
102.  Most disappointing from our perspective is that this reduction seems to be primarily at the 
expense of LDCs beneficiaries.  Looking at the figures at income level, Aid -for-Trade disbursements 
to LDCs have dropped from USD 15.6 in 2020 to 13.5 billion 2021.  Further analysis reveals that 
substantial reductions have been experienced in those countries facing the most complex issues of 
fragility and conflict.  
103.  As you know, Chair, the Doha Programme of Action outlines a ten -year plan to tap into the 
potential of the LDCs by implem enting renewed and strengthened commitments between the LDCs 
and their development partners, including the private sector, civil society, and governments at all 
levels. This includes the target of significantly increasing Aid -for-Trade support for least de veloped 
countries, which is expected to double by 2031 from 2018 levels.  
104.  In addition to this, SDG 8 of the 2030 UN sustainable development agenda includes a target 
to increase Aid -for-Trade support for developing countries, particularly LDCs, including th rough the 
Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) for trade -related technical assistance to LDCs.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  105.  Chair, we are discussing at the meeting of CTD Aid for Trade at a time where LDCs have been 
facing several challenges in participating in and benefiting from mult ilateral trading system. LDCs 
are the one which were hit hard by the COVID -19 pandemics, facing the challenges of rocketing 
inflation, energy crisis, food insecurity, climate change and balance of payment as well as digital 
divide.  
106.  Let me present some fact s, around 14 % people have less than one percent of global trade. 
LDCs are the poorest, most fragile countries with limited capacity to engage in trade, and it is crucial 
to help them participate in the multilateral trading system.  
107.  Finally, we call on all trade and development actors, such as bilateral donors, international 
financial institutions, international organizations, LDC support such as the EIF, multilateral 
development banks, regional banks, LDC technology bank, and the private sector, to redouble  their 
efforts to meet the trade financing needs of LDCs. This is an important issue to increase the 
participation of LDCs in the global trading system and ensure we collectively continue to pursue the 
objectives that sit at the very core of the Aid -for-Trade initiative.  
108.  The representative of China  raised a query to the OECD, seeking further insights regarding the 
significant 22% decrease in commitments. Additionally, she requested a clarification on the definition 
of Other Official Flows.  
109.  The representativ e of the European Union  enquired about the expected date for the availability 
of definitive figures and the potential level of divergence. The EU also shared its preliminary reaction, 
connecting the decrease in Aid for Trade with the simultaneous increase in support for health and 
humanitarian initiatives. It emphasized its intention to closely monitor the suggested developments 
to assess the extent to which they are reflected in their own figures.  
110.  In response to questions and comments by Members, t he representative of the OECD  reminded 
the Committee  that the data presented was provisional, with updates to be expected in the following 
weeks.  
111.  Addressing the substantial decline in flows, she suggested a nuanced perspective. Recognizing 
the potential f or strong fluctuations in commitments, she proposed examining commitments on an 
average basis rather than focusing solely on year -to-year changes. Commitments did not directly 
represent funds received but rather indicated engagement levels that could exten d over a period of 
up to 10 years.  
112.  Furthermore, she provided a clarification regarding the definition of Aid for Trade, explaining 
that it constituted a subset of Official Development Assistance. A id for Trade encompassed both 
grants and loans provided at a certain level of "concessionality ". In contrast, she introduced the 
concept of Other Official Flows, which encompassed financial support aimed at development 
objectives but did not necessarily meet the specific criteria for Aid for Trade. The OECD tracke d OOF 
because they played a significant role in helping developing country partners achieve their 
objectives.  
_______________  
 
113.  Statement by the  United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO ): 
114.  The representative  provide d an update on the work of The Inter -Agency Task Force on 
Financing for Development, which is convened by the UN Secretary -General to follow up on the Addis 
Ababa Action Agenda, other Financing for Development outcomes and the means of implementation 
of the  2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. The Committee is comprised of over 60 United 
Nations agencies and other relevant international institutions, including UNIDO.  
115.  The Task Force prepares an annual Financing for Sustainable Development Report and I believe  
that the recently released 2023 edition on the theme Financing sustainable transformations is 
particularly relevant to the current Aid for Trade work programme - as it addresses the three areas 
of focus of the work programme.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  116.  The report says a sustainable industrial transformation is needed to close the widening 
development gap between countries, meet climate targets and achieve the Sustainable Development 
Goals (SDGs).  
117.  The report warns of a lasting sustainable development divide and calls on the internatio nal 
community to align financing with sustainable development by combining three sets of actions. First, 
scale up development cooperation and SDG investment. Second, strengthen the international 
financial architecture. Third, accelerate national sustainabl e industrial transformations.  
118.  The report warns that, at the current pace of progress, the world will not achieve SDG9 
(industry, innovation, infrastructure). Accordingly, it emphasizes that countries need to strengthen  
strategic approaches, including throu gh a new generation of sustainable industrial policies and 
integrated financing frameworks.  
119.  Development finance is not keeping pace with growing SDG financing needs  - the report 
observes, stressing the need for urgent action to boost all forms of internati onal development 
cooperation (ODA, public/private investment, etc.) and enhance the international financial 
architecture (tax norms, rules, development finance; operationalize the loss and damage fund) and 
update multilateral trade rules. And there is need  for a long - term focus, including for industrial 
policies.  
120.  "Industrialization and structural transformation have been historic engines of growth, job 
creation and technological advancement, " notes the report. In this context, it goes on to state that 
the current revival of industrial policies opens a "window of opportunity for countries to pursue 
sustainable industrial transformations: to build the domestic productive capabilities to achieve 
low-carbon transitions and create decent jobs and gender equality , along with productivity and 
economic growth ". 
121.  The representative of UNIDO  conclude d by informing the committee that UNIDO has been 
increasing its support to member countries in developing a new generation of sustainable industrial 
policies to scale up in vestments and achieve needed transformations in agroindustry, green energy, 
and manufacturing. This support includes the convening of annual Multilateral Industrial Policy 
Forums   (MIPF) - with the first edition held last March.  
122.  The MIPF is a global platfor m that creates a space for mutual learning, information exchange 
and knowledge sharing on cross  - cutting thematic issues, such as greening the economy, 
digitalization and technology transfer, and the achievement of the SDGs.  
_______________  
 
123.  Statement by the  United Nations Development Programme (UNDP ): 
124.  I would like to provide an overview of the work of the United Nations Development Programme 
focused on food security and agri -food supply chain.  
125.  In 2020, UNDP launched its Food and Agricultural Commodities Systems strategy to guide its 
future programming, partnerships and investments in this field. UNDP  ́s vision for Food and 
Agricultural Commodities Systems is, through multi -stakeholder collaboration, to transform food and 
commodity systems into  resilient; equitable; inclusive; environmentally, socially and economically 
sustainable systems.  
126.  UNDP addresses food crisis and food insecurity through resilience building, where the adaptive 
capacity of households, communities, and food systems themselve s, are strengthened, to be able to 
withstand shocks and stressors emanating from many different fronts, including climate/weather, 
conflict, disease and economic shocks, among others. Taking an integrated and systemic approach, 
UNDP address the deeper root s of global food crises and accelerating the transformation of national 
and global food systems to achieve long -term food security and the resilience of these systems.   
127.  Through the implementation of the Food Systems Country Support Programme, which is 
currently developed together with FAO, UNDP will provide additional support to national WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  governments for the implementation of their food system pathways, while also helping them to 
address the impacts of the food, energy, climate and nature crisis.   
128.  Furthermor e, UNDP recognizes the important role trade has for food security as well as 
achieving resilient and sustainable food systems, poverty reduction and more inclusive and 
sustainable development, as it assists in providing livelihoods for farmers and people e mployed along 
the value chain, facilitates access to a larger choice of food products to consumers.  
129.  However, trade is currently not fully economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable. 
Trade rules, agreements and commitments needs to be updated a nd enhanced so that they ensure 
food security and equitable access to nutritious food, favour smallholders, and promote 
environmentally sustainable practices.  
130.  Therefore, UNDP works with partners to strengthen capacities to formulate, implement and 
monitor  trade policy and programmes to contribute to food and agricultural commodity systems 
aligned with sustainable development considerations. UNDP also works to create enabling 
environments to foster sustainable supply chains, which includes ensuring that tra de is fair and 
benefits the local producer.  
131.  Part of this work has been the successful implementation of several phases of an Aid -for-Trade 
initiative in Central Asia. Since 2009, UNDP has supported Central Asian countries in promoting 
inclusive and sustai nable growth through promoting green value chains and increasing the 
competitiveness of economies. The Aid - for-Trade project is currently in its fifth phase, and has 
supported the creation of 5,000 new jobs, including 2,000 for women in the region and sup ported 
export contracts worth USD 600 million. The project’s approach is to tackle economic diversification 
and trade development issues in an integrated manner by working on three mutually reinforcing 
levels: policy (macro level), trade/business support i nstitutions (meso level) and direct support to 
businesses/value chain actors (micro level).  
132.  The representative of the  United States  indicated that they had provided USD 352 million in 
trade capacity building , approximately USD 75 million of which was disbursed in 2021  to support 
initiative targeting customs and logistics . The underlying reasons was dealing with the pandemic and 
the issues it had introduced. Trade facilitation then became a very important facet of US support on 
account of the trade disr uptions cause d by the pandemic, by conflict, climate change and other 
issues. She identified  the need for flexibi lity as one of the lessons learned to ensure resilience . This 
meant the ability to shi ft Aid for Trade for humanitarian process which did not necessar ily mean  a 
degradation to commitments towards development objectives.  
_______________  
 
133.  Statement by the  United Nations Committee on Trade and Development (UNCTAD ): 
134.  The representative of UNCTAD  welcome d the focus on the digital economy as part of the  Work 
Programme 2023 -2024. Digital connectivity and skills development are among the barriers that 
developing countries face to develop their ability to benefit from the digital economy. It also aligned 
well with the ongoing process in the UN towards a Global Digital Compact.  
135.  He gave a brief update on UNCTAD’s capacity -building activities in the area of e -commerce 
undertaken with the support of our donors. A brief update was already provided during the session 
in February on UNCTAD’s engagement  with developing countries on assessing the state -of-play of 
their e -commerce enabling environment through eTrade Readiness Assessments and assisting them 
in the development of E -commerce Strategies and Action Plans.  
136.  As of today, we have completed 32 eTrad e Readiness assessments for individual countries, of 
which 24 in LDCs and 2 assessments for regional groupings. The eT Ready of Mongolia will be 
launched on 8th of June and the eT Ready of Peru was validated last week in Lima. We believe it 
would be valuab le to ensure that sufficient funding is available to enable all developing countries 
that would like to benefit from such an assessment and be able to implement its recommendations. 
We still have requests from LDCs for which funding is yet to be identified . WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  137.  Four new eTrade Readiness Assessments are underway in Algeria, Ghana, Mauritania and 
Timor -Leste which will be followed with an E -Commerce Strategy, while two others are planned to 
start later this year for Trinidad & Tobago and Zimbabwe.  
138.  In Kenya the Go vernment followed up the assessment with a draft E -Commerce Strategy in 
consultation with public and private stakeholders. The strategy, which aims to be complementary to 
the regional East African Community E -commerce Strategy, is expected to be launched i n the coming 
months.  
139.  In ECOWAS, the regional assessment was the first step towards a regional E -Commerce 
Strategy - the first in West Africa. The strategy  will be presented to the next Council of Ministers for 
adoption in July of this year.  
140.  In Tunisia the  Action Plan which followed the eT Ready is under implementation. The Action 
plan serves to prioritize and fast -track policy implementation of actions recommended in the 
assessment and to ensure the continued commitment of all stakeholders. As part of UNCT AD's 
support to the implementation of priority actions, UNCTAD will conduct a training workshop mid -July 
aimed at strengthening the capacities of SMEs operating in the e -commerce sector to facilitate their 
access to funding. In Jordan, the Government has a dopted last month the Action Plan as part of 
their National e -commerce strategy.  
141.  An Action Plan is also under preparation for Malawi as a follow -up to its eTrade Readiness 
assessment following multistakeholder consultations with national stakeholders and d evelopment 
partners in February. The country is also looking to develop an e -commerce strategy to further 
promote reforms in support of e -commerce development.  
142.  These activities are triggering increased interest from, and enhanced cooperation among, 
develop ment partners - including donors, UN agencies (through the UN Resident Coordinator Offices) 
and eTrade for all partners - to support the implementation of priority actions in the countries 
concerned.  
143.  This confirms that developing countries at different in come levels and of various sizes see 
value not only in the findings and recommendations that result from the diagnostic assessments, 
but also in enhanced inter -ministerial coordination, strengthened public -private dialogue and 
committed support for the imp lementation of priority actions.  
144.  Under the Pacific Digital Economy Programme (PDEP), Fiji has started the development of its 
first national e -commerce strategy. UNCTAD has conducted a self -paced online training on 
measuring the digital economy, and other f urther capacity -building activities are planned in 
September with a view to improving the legal framework for e -commerce in the region. A 
comprehensive gap analysis of e -commerce legislation in the Pacific will be published based on 
feedback from the train ing. 
145.  We have observed a positive trend in the extent to which countries are acting upon the 
recommendations contained in the assessments. Through an Implementation Support Mechanism, 
UNCTAD fosters synergies among development partners, facilitate access to  e-commerce 
capacity -building development solutions and monitor progress on the implementation of 
recommendations in beneficiary countries. The next implementation review is currently being 
prepared and will be released in the fall. It will examine challen ges, good practices, lessons learned 
and policy impacts.  
146.  Let me also note that we have experienced a surge in demand for participation in regional 
Masterclasses of eTrade for Women, as well as a rapid expansion of the Communities, which now 
count around 30 0 women digital entrepreneurs from more than 40 countries. Our next Masterclass 
will be held in Malaysia in July, for South -East Asia and Pacific digital entrepreneurs.  
147.  I would also like to remind all that we have just opened the call for proposals for the  UNCTAD 
eWeek, which will this year take place on 4 -8 December in Geneva.  It will take place in person at 
the International Conference Centre in Geneva ( CICG). The call for proposal will be open until 
23 June. We invite all of you to take this opportunity to submit proposals and join us for this 
multistakeholder event, under the theme “Shaping the Future of the Digital Economy”.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  148.  Finally, UNCTAD is pleased to participate in the upcoming workshop organized on 1 -2 June as 
part of the WTO Work Programme on E -Commerce.  
149.  The representative of Nepal , on behalf of LDCs,  provided a brief statement of appreciation  to 
UNCTAD's support in the area of e -commerce and digital trade.  
_______________  
II. MAINSTREAMING  
150.  Under this agenda item, Members reported to the Committee following their Trade Policy 
Review.  
151.  The representative of the Dominican  Republic  gave the following statement:   
152.  During the Fifth  Trade Policy Review of the Dominican Republic, held on 24 and 26 January 
2023, the country showed its commitment to the WTO and the global trading system. The Review 
reflected the stability, economic growth, and transparency in the Dominican Republic. This was an 
excellent opportunity to appreciate the country's main advances, achievements,  and challenges 
since the 2015 Review.  
153.  The more than 200 questions submitted prior to the meeting, and the 28 delegations that took 
the floor, reflected the importance of the Dominican Republic's trade policies for WTO Membership. 
Members appr eciated the written responses provided by the Dominican Republic.  
154.  Members commended the Dominican Republic for its rapid recovery from the negative effects 
of the COVID -19 pandemic. GDP declined by 6.7% in 2020, but expanded by more than 12% in 
2021. This was due to the adoption of macroeconomic policies that included a fiscal package of more 
than 4% of GDP and liquidity injection via the financial system.  
155.  The Dominican Republic's trade policy regime had remained open and transparent. This is 
reflected in the importance of trade in goods and services to the economy, accounting for more than 
half of GDP.  
156.  The Dominican Republic achieved strong economic growth and higher levels of employment 
by maintaining an open market. In this regard, the efforts made to m aintain an attractive climate 
for business and investment, such as the implementation of secure payment systems and the 
development of the FinTech industry, were highlighted.  
157.  Members appreciated the Dominican Republic's participation in the WTO and its st rong 
commitment to a rules -based multilateral trading system.  
158.  Members noted that since September 2022, the Dominican Republic is an Observer in the WTO 
Committee on Government Procurement.  
159.  Another highlight is the country's efforts to modernise and simplify customs regimes and 
procedures, and to facilitate trade, including electronic declarations and advance ruling provisions.  
160.  New developments related to the intellectual property rights reg ime were also welcomed. On 
agriculture, they welcomed the shift towards sustainable agricultural practices during the period 
under review and how these practices had contributed to increased food security, rural employment 
and agricultural exports.  
161.  During  the last quarter of 2023, a Follow -up Workshop to the Fifth Trade Policy Review is 
scheduled to take place in the Dominican Republic, in which the country's needs in the framework 
of its trade policy and trade facilitation will be assessed, and any Techni cal Assistance that may be 
required from the WTO will be defined. In this regard, we would like to thank the WTO Institute for 
Training and Cooperation for all the support provided.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  162.  Finally, we thank once again the Trade Policy Review Division of the WTO S ecretariat for their 
professionalism and collaboration, as well as the Members for their support during the Review, which 
contributed to the success of the exercise.  
_______________  
 
 
163.  The representative of El Salvador  gave the following statement  about its  TPR: 
164.  Different crises have had a negative impact on the global economy, with direct repercussions 
for El Salvador. Nevertheless, the country has managed to embark on a historic path to recovery, 
and has already made significant progress in economic and tr ade matters, through the 
implementation of measures aimed at increasing productivity, facilitating trade and promoting the 
exploitation of the opportunities offered by free trade.  
165.  Less than a month ago, El Salvador held its Fifth Trade Policy Review, whic h discussed the 
actions that the country has taken to create a business climate conducive to attracting Foreign Direct 
Investment (FDI) and increasing local investment, including measures to simplify and streamline 
procedures, with a view to facilitating t he establishment, operation and growth of investments.  
166.  One of the vehicles to achieve this objective is the Project for the Simplification and 
Digitalisation of Procedures in the area of investment, as a concrete action, the System for the 
Streamlining of Procedures is already available, in which procedures are carried out 100% digitally 
and with the use of a certified electronic signature. Through this tool, the number of procedures has 
been reduced from 31 to 10, and response times have been reduced by 25 %. 
167.  Trade facilitation has become one of the most important axes of trade policy and a tool to 
reduce the time and costs associated with international trade, on which El Salvador has been working 
continuously. In this regard, public -private Annual Work Plan s have been created, which have led to 
the conclusion of more than 100 measures that have contributed to the simplification and 
digitalisation of trade procedures, the improvement of physical and technological infrastructure at 
border posts, ports and airp orts, and the training of human talent.  
168.  In addition, the Government of El Salvador is in the process of becoming a Digital Government, 
where all government institutions will be interconnected and there will be a single access to 
government services. Anothe r of the country's strategic programmes is the creation of a Productive 
Innovation Ecosystem, which aims to strengthen and increase business competitiveness. This 
programme is promoted through innovation management in MSMEs, support for business 
restructur ing and productive innovation, the promotion of cleaner production and the protection and 
use of intellectual property, among others.  
169.  All these actions are aimed at achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth for 
El Salvador.  
170.  In the regional context, there are joint initiatives among Central American countries with the 
objective of turning the region into a logistics hub, with joint portfolios of regional and bi -national 
infrastructure projects. In addition, with the support of  multilateral organisations, a new Central 
American Trade Facilitation Strategy is being developed. This strategy aims at implementing actions 
to further reduce the transit times and costs of goods in order to make the Central American region 
increasingly competitive.  
171.  In addition, El Salvador is working on various programmes and initiatives for sustained 
economic growth, with the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life of the Salvadoran population. 
It is important to mention that financial assistanc e from our partners such as the Central American 
Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), USAID, the European Union, the World Bank and the 
Inter-American Development Bank (I aDB), among others, has been of vital importance for the 
implementation of most of t hese actions.  
_______________  
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  172.  Then, t he representative of Japan  gave the following statement  about its TPR : 
173.  Japan had its 15th Trade Policy Review on 1 and 3 March 2023. I would like to briefly report 
our recent Aid -for-Trade contributions to the committe e. 
174.  Firstly we would like to show our appreciation to Members, who participated in the discussion 
via statements and via written questions.  
175.  In in our TPR, Japan reaffirmed the importance of "Aid for Trade" and has actively assisted 
developing countries to help them further integrate into the multilateral trading system. We have 
implemented a wide range of projects to build capacity and provide infrastructure in these countries. 
We offered a total of approximately USD 1,270,000, through the WTO and the Inter national Trade 
Centre  in 2022, and approximately USD 10.3 billion, including in the form of bilateral assistance as 
part of Aid for Trade in 2020.  
176.  Concretely, Japan has given a priority to the implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation 
Agreement. Especially, we have collaborated with the World Customs Organization (WCO) and other 
institutions, and have assisted developing countries to harmonize and simplify their customs 
procedures. We have provided the assistance in diverse areas, inclu ding Asia, Africa, and island 
countries.  
177.  Furthermore, through the International Trade Centre  (ITC), Japan has been providing online 
training sessions for female entrepreneurs in developing countries since 2018. We have encouraged 
them to participate in int ernational trade and to benefit from it.  
178.  As the multilateral trading system faces a variety of unprecedented challenges, including the 
recent COVID19 pandemic, Japan will continue to cooperate with WTO members and will continue 
to make active contributions  to Aid for Trade.  
_______________  
 
179.  The representative of the Enhanced Integrated Framework  (EIF) made the following statement  
about its activities, thanking all the partners in the EIF, Donors, LDCs and international agencies, 
many of whom are here in th e room today, for their invaluable contributions to the EIF.  
180.  The partnership's activities continue to focus on delivering results and effectively closing out 
Phase 2, with the pace of closures accelerating with all projects to be completed by the end of t his 
year. 109 projects from the second phase of the EIF have now having either been closed or are in 
the process of closure, and 66 projects are currently under implementation.  
181.  Let me also stress the relevance of the AfT work programme and the strong alig nment with 
the EIFs ongoing interventions.  
182.  Excellencies, mainstreaming trade is a founding objective of the EIF. In the last year the EIF 
supported the integration of trade into five new National Development Plans. In The Gambia for 
instance, the country’s  new Green Focused Recovery National Development Plan (GFR -NDP) 
2023-2028 integrates key findings from the EIF's Diagnostic Trade Integration Study, including 
ensuring that the digital economy is a priority area.  
183.  Linking trade mainstreaming to digital con nectivity; on international women's day this year, 
and together with the International Telecommunications Union we launched a "Handbook on 
Mainstreaming Gender in Digital Policy", now available for download. In a joint EIF project with 
UNCTAD and the UPU, and with co -funding from the Global Alliance on Trade Facilitation and 
SwissContact in Cambodia, and the Australian Government in Vanuatu, in a first of its kind for LDCs 
both country's postal and customs authorities have been digitally linked. A new e -commerce bill is 
in development in Nepal with EIF support, and more than USD 350 million in investment has been 
channelled through a new digital Investment Facilitation portal in Bhutan.  
184.  More than 50% of EIF  projects to date are on areas related to agriculture and food security. 
In the Central African Republic, for example, high -yield inputs and the introduction of improved WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  farming techniques for maize, sesame and palm oil production has directly contributed to the 
production of more than 9,000 MT of these products in the last calendar year as well as the creation 
of 11,000 jobs, of which almost a half are held by women and a third by youth.  
185.  In Togo, the results of prior EIF investments into growing soya as a new export sector are 
truly impressive, and a testament to the sustainability of results when working with national 
systems. Production volumes have grown by 10 -fold since 2015, with hundreds of thousands of jobs 
now supported through the production of the  crop. Export markets now include India, the 
Netherlands, the United States, and Vietnam.  
186.  Building on the momentum from the recent LDC5 meetings, the EIF is working with the WTO 
and United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed C ountries, Landlocked 
Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States  (UN-OHRLLS ) in analytical work 
contributing to the implementation of the trade elements of the Doha Programme of Action for the 
LDCs.  
187.  To conclude, I would like to invite the Membe rship to keep an eye out for our communications 
products emerging this year, including on our social media, an impact catalogue of lessons and 
results from the EIF partnership in each LDC, and the EIF 2022 Annual Report to be released at the 
end of June.  
188.  Again, I thank all the EIF partners, and particularly the generosity of the EIF Donors, for their 
support in contributing to these results for the LDCs.  
189.  In reaction to the statement made by the Enhanced Integrated Framework, the  representative 
of Nepal, on  behalf of the LDCs , made the following statement:  
190.  The LDC Group would like to thank EIF for the ir presentation and update. I appreciate your 
efforts to mainstreaming trade with in the spirit of Aid for Trade through  Phase 1 and 2.  Meanwhile, 
as we are disc ussing the possible future of the EIF, the LDC Group is of the view that there should 
be no break in support or disruption in the implementation of ongoing projects  We propose the 
implementation of a reasonable transition period aimed at mitigating the adv erse effects of 
uncertainty through a n amicable solution . LDC Group extends appreciation to the development 
partners who have been providing assistance through EIF and take this opportunity to urge for an 
increase of the assistance in line with the spirit of Doha Plan of Action . 
191.  Chair, let me now speak a few points in my national capacity.  My delegation would like to 
thank the EIF for the continued support in the area of trade mainstreaming through its Phases 1 and 
2. The National Im plementation Unit is now well embedded into the government 's mechanism. Nepal 
received support  for the implementation of some activities as part of Nepal Trade Integration Study 
(NTIS) 2016 and is currently  implementing  a project with the objective of establishing a traceability 
system in the Tea which involves  the active participation of the private sector.  I take this opportunity 
to thank the development partners for their support.  
192.  In reaction to the statement made by the Enhanced Integrated Framework, th e representative 
of Cambodia  made the following statement:  
193.  At the outset, my delegation would like to echo the LDC  statement delivered by the Delegation 
of Nepal and we welcome the update made by the EIF.  
194.  Chair, we cannot stress enough the importance of aid for trade for the development of 
developing countries, especially the LDCs. For Cambodia, we have been able to use aid for trade, 
especially through the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), to build inst itutional and human 
capacity as well as develop our production capacity for our export -oriented sector.  
195.  Through the implementation of our capacity building program, we have been able to use that 
as a springboard to launch other programs that cover more wi de-ranging and cross -cutting trade 
issues such as SPS/TBT, quality infrastructure, trade facilitation and customs automation among 
others.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  196.  Taking this opportunity, Chair, please allow me to highlight a recent project in Cambodia under 
the EIF support which  is entitled "Go4eCAM ", which is the first e -commerce project in Cambodia. 
It's going along the line with e -Commerce Strategy was endorsed back in 2020. Go4eCAM is 
financially supported by the EIF and implemented by the Ministry of Commerce with the main 
objective to increase economic opportunities for Cambodian SMEs to participate in the e -commerce 
and digital economy. One of the components under the Go4eCAM project aims at scaling up the 
outcome of the implementation of its "Operational Readiness of Cambo dia Post for e -Commerce ", 
by collaborating with UNCTAD and the UPU, and with co -funding from the Global Alliance on Trade 
Facilitation and Swisscontact to Cambodia through the implementation of Improving Small Package 
e-Trade for SMEs (“SeT4SME”) project.  
197.  With this collaboration, the project contributes to digitizing customs processes applying to 
small packages sent through the post by establishing Electronic Advance Data (EAD), or the 
exchanging of standardized postal goods declaration information between the respective IT systems 
of customs administration and Cambodia’s Post; and on the other hand strengthening the capacity 
of key stakeholders, particularly MSMEs looking to ship goods internationally and upscale their small 
package export capabilities.  
198.  To conclude, our delegation would like to express our gratitude to all partners and donors who 
had supported Cambodia through EIF funding. We would also like to see further commitment and 
comprehensive support to improve the systemic issues hampering LDCs’ tr ade including 
environmental and climate change issues, structural transformation, diversification, digital 
connectivity, integration into regional and global value chains, etc. With that I end my intervention.  
199.  In reaction to the statement by the EIF, t he representative of the United Kingdom  said that 
his country would remain donor coordinator of the EIF Board , he praised the EIF for  their focus on 
delivering results and for their efforts to ensure project s closure by the end of 2023. He also thanked 
Nepal for setting out the LDC contribution  and Cambodia for offering examples of the EIF's. 
Discussions on the future of the EIF were important ; beneficiaries  and Members were invited to 
engage in the upcoming steering committee on 30 June 2023. 
_______________  
 
200.  The representative of the Standards Trade Development Facility  (STDF)  made the following 
statement:  
201.  As we  have heard yesterday in the workshop, agriculture is a key Aid -for-Trade priority area 
and critical for economic growth, to alleviate  poverty, and to achieve food security among others. 
An important component of this support is assistance to developing countries in meeting sanitary 
and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements and standards.  
202.  Allow me to highlight a  few figures: the United Nation s Food and Agriculture Organization 
(FAO) FAO estimates that plant pests are responsible for losses of up to USD 220 billion in 
agricultural trade each year, causing a 40% loss in global food crop production. There are many 
examples of plant pests, which a re also frequently discussed in the SPS Committee, such as fall 
armyworm, fruit fly, etc. A recent example is Tropical Race 4 (TR4), which is threatening 80 per cent 
of global banana production.  
203.  The World Organization for Animal Health  (OIE)  estimates tha t animal diseases cause the loss 
of at least 20% of livestock production globally, amounting to about USD 300 billion in losses every 
year. Again, we know the examples: African Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease, and so on. Some 
of these diseases are zoon otic, meaning that they can be transmitted between animals and humans. 
These diseases have human health implications, in addition to causing economic damage. Examples 
of the most dangerous zoonoses include Avian Influenza, Ebola, and of course COVID -19. 
204.  It's often said that there is no food security without food safety. Globally, food -borne illness 
affects 600 million people and causes more than 420,000 deaths each year, according to the World 
Health Organization. The World Bank estimates that unsafe food i s costing low - and middle -income 
countries at least USD 110 billion each year in lost productivity and medical expenses.  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  205.  Against this background, supporting developing countries to meet international food safety, 
animal and plant health standards set is ke y. In the WTO, we know that using these standards as 
the basis for a country's SPS measures provides trade opportunities. This is what we call 
"harmonization". But implementing these standards is also good practice, increases production 
levels, reduces foo d loss and waste, and improves the public health situation.   
206.  To get there, countries must have well -functioning competent authorities in place able to 
conduct monitoring and surveillance on pests and diseases and to provide emergency response s 
where necessary . Countries should operate testing and diagnostic laboratories, certify the safety of 
plants, animals, and food products, carry out inspections at and behind the border, and conduct risk 
analysis and risk management.  
207.  The STDF supports developing and least developed countries in building this SPS capacity, 
based on the international standards, to facilitate trade, but also to address food security concerns 
and improve livelihoods. Similar to the EIF, w e are grateful to our development partners who are 
supporting the STDF in this work. We look forward to contribut ing to the Aid for Trade work 
programme in this specific area. 
208.  Allow me to provide a few other quick updates  in the area of STDF activities : the STDF is 
contributing actively to implementati on of the MC12 SPS Declaration. An STDF workshop for 
SPS delegates in March highlighted experiences and lessons from a number of STDF projects 
benefiting Africa, Asia and Latin America. More info is available on the STDF website.   
209.  The STDF Working Group wi ll meet on 14 -15 June and discuss a range of new SPS project and 
project preparation grants submitted by developing countries. Electronic certification, the use of 
public -private partnerships in building SPS capacity, and a new STDF Gender Action Plan are also on 
the agenda.   
210.  Some f orthcoming events  might be of interest to Members : At the end of July  2023 - the STDF 
will organize a workshop with the Inter -American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) in 
Costa Rica to explore ways to expand electr onic SPS certification in Latin America & the Caribbean, 
to promote paperless trade and reduce time and costs. There will be a specific focus on promoting 
eCert for trading in animals and animal products. This event may also fit well with the Aid for Trade  
theme of "Digital Connectivity".  
211.  In September 2023,  the STDF will partner with the African Union and the African Continental 
Free Trade Area ( AfCFTA ) Secretariat, with support also from USDA, in organizing a workshop on 
the use of Good Regulatory Practice  in the development and implementation of SPS measures, to 
facilitate regional trade. It is estimated that reducing non tariff barriers ( NTBs) in Africa will be 
4 times as effective for trade as working on just tariff reduction – so this is a timely event.   
212.  Finally, the STDF programme is evaluated every 5 years; the next evaluation is expected to 
start in September – we are working with our procurement colleagues in WTO - with the final report 
expected in the second quarter of 2024.  
213.  The representatives of t he United States  and the European Union  thanked the STDF for its 
statement. In response to a question by the EU , the STDF  communicated that they were in direct 
contact with the EU Commission in Brussels, as well as the AU and AfCFTA Secretariats, the event 
was likely to take place in Ghana  during the second week of September 2023 and more details will 
be provided in future.  
III. REGIONAL DIMENSION   
214.  No statement s were made under this agenda item.  
IV. PRIVATE SECTOR  
215.  The International Trade Centre (ITC ) made the following statement  about its activities :  
216.  As we are moving from spring to summer, ITC is in the midst of an action -packed 2023. This 
is the second year of our Strategic Plan with our commitment towards building inclusive, sustainable WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  and prosperous economies. We published our annual Operational Plan for 2023 earlier in the year. 
Here are some highlights:  
217.  In 2023, ITC plans to deliver trade -related technical assistance worth USD 146 million in 2023, 
equal to the delivery target for 2022.  
218.  Regarding the geographical distribution of our interventions —at least 75% of our country -level 
assistance is planned for LDCs, sub –Saharan Africa, landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), small 
island developing States (SIDS), small and vulnerable economies (SVEs), and conflict -affected 
countries.  
219.  The two largest core services areas of our work in 2023 will be our “firm -level support to 
MSMEs”, accounting for over 40% of  extra budgetary ( XB) delivery, and our support to create more 
conducive policy and regulatory environments for MSMEs”, accounting for 23%.  
220.  The two largest impact areas are sustainable and resilient value cha ins, and inclusive trade 
with women, youth, and other vulnerable groups. Together they account for over 60% of XB delivery 
in total.  
221.  Our key 2023 targets include, ensuring 20,000 MSMEs, of which 9,500 women -led, will have 
improved international competitive ness and10,000 MSMEs, of which 4,000 women -led, will have 
transacted international business.   
222.  This year, ITC is continuing to contribute to the global SDG agenda and we are advocating for 
inclusive and diverse economies, support our MSME clients and contri bute to the healing of our 
planet.  
223.  Earlier in January, at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, ITC emphasized 
the urgency of addressing climate change in ensuring the future of jobs, particularly for small 
businesses in developing countries.  
224.  In March, at LDC5, we advocated for the use of trade as a tool to implement the Doha 
Programme of Action so that least developed countries return to a path towards achieving the SDGs. 
ITC took part in the plenary session, ministerial meetings and various r oundtables, emphasizing the 
need to invest in the “silent majority” – small businesses that drive trade -led development and make 
up about 95% of all jobs in least developed countries. At LDC5, we were also happy to release the 
“LDC Trade tracker” with the Office of the High Representative for the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS 
(UN-OHRLLS), that allows users to monitor the trade of LDCs through thematic reports and 
interactive indicators.  
225.  In March, one day after International Women’s Day, ITC and the Economic Develop ment Board 
(EDB) Mauritius launched the ITC SheTrades Mauritius Hub – the 12th in its series. The new Hub will 
deliver business and investment opportunities to Mauritian women entrepreneurs and foster a 
community of partners to support their success in tra de and digital economy. Mid -March, ITC 
partnered with the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) Foundation of Bangladesh to launch  - the 
SheTrades Bangladesh Hub, becoming the 13th Hub to join the ITC SheTrades Initiative. Next will 
be the Mongolia SheTrades H ub that will be launched during the upcoming World Export 
Development Forum.  
226.  For ITC to deliver its mandate in a challenging Aid for Trade environment, partnerships are 
critical to deliver on the SDGs in an integrated way. ITC recognises the need to draw on the work of 
a range of actors to deliver against the targets set out in its Strategic Plan 2022 -2025. We have 
been forging impactful collaborations with like -minded partners.  
227.  ITC and Visa are partnering to provide youth -led and e -commerce businesses in  Africa with 
the tools, training, and resources they need to enhance their financial skills. Mastercard and ITC are 
collaborating to help more micro -businesses worldwide through an online training course, promoting 
the advantages of digitalization and effe ctive use of online sales channels.  
228.  PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) France, Maghreb Foundation, and ITC are working together to 
promote sports as an economic sector in developing countries, creating job opportunities for women WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  and youth. Meanwhile, ITC and Un ilever are partnering to build a diverse supplier database and 
inclusive procurement practices by developing a pipeline of eligible women suppliers in Indonesia.  
229.  ITC’s GreenToCompete Hub in Nepal and NMB Bank Limited have formed a partnership to 
enhance sm all agricultural businesses' access to green finance. This innovative financing 
approach  - the first of its kind in Nepal  - will support sustainable agriculture and bridge the gap in 
access to finance for farmers and agribusinesses to grow.  
230.  ITC and the impact marketplace NOVICA are opening an Artisan Empowerment Hub that will 
enable artisans from Central Asia to access entirely new online sales channels to target international 
customers.  
231.  ITC joined forces with Google and the International Cha mber of Commerce (ICC) to launch 
the Digital Export Enablement Programme (DEEP) for Small Businesses in ASEAN to empower small 
firms to grow internationally via e -commerce.  
232.  ITC and Fairtrade are collaborating to enhance their sustainability efforts in coco a, coffee, and 
other value chains. Together, they will engage public and private actors, support farmer 
organizations in accessing new distribution channels, and reach new markets.  
233.  We are also committed to collaborating more with multilateral agencies. Uni ted Nations World 
Food Programme (WFP) and ITC signed an agreement to collaborate on improving the efficiency and 
competitiveness of MSMEs in Iraq.  
234.  With Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), we are launching phase II of our collaboration 
to empower wom en and boost livelihoods through agricultural trade, leveraging the African 
Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) . With many more exciting partnerships to be launched in the 
coming months.  
235.  We have few exciting events coming up over the summer.  After the dis ruptions caused by 
global challenges over the last few years, we are excited to inform you about the upcoming 
20th edition of the World Export Development Forum (WEDF ) — the first one since 2019. in Mongolia 
from 26 -29 June. We would cordially invite you a ll to Mongolia from 26 -29 June to our flagship event. 
The theme is “Diversify with Green Trade” and promises to create a platform for a sustainable, 
inclusive recovery through international trade. It also takes a deep dive into the needs of special 
geograp hic groups – particularly developing, landlocked and least developed countries. The event 
will include high -level plenaries, business networking events, and capacity building for trade, quality 
management, market linkages.  
236.  During WEDF, ITC will also have its pitch contest, the "Youth Ecopreneur Award " - a global 
award for young green innovators. Young entrepreneurs from developing countries with green and 
sustainable solutions have a chance to pitch their business ideas and win seed funding at WEDF. 
Please  do share this widely in your networks!  
237.  With thanks to Mongolia, whose commitment to hosting the World Export Development Forum 
comes from the highest levels in the country and the private sector – we very much look forward to 
seeing you all in beautiful M ongolia.  
238.  Going beyond WEDF, ITC will be contributing to the EU -Central Asia Economic Forum in 
Kazakhstan in May and ICC World Chamber Congress in Geneva in June as we continue to bring the 
voice of MSMEs to international fora.  
239.  To finish off July, we have the 57th session of the Joint Advisory Group or JAG, here at the 
WTO on 20th July— the meeting will focus on the activities and achievements of ITC in 2022. We 
look forward to hearing from our stakeholders about ITC’s work in 2022 and about ways in which 
we can further support and uplift small businesses in developing countries.  
240.  To sum -up Chair, at ITC we will continue to support SMEs in adapting to the complex, 
challenging and interdependent world  — bringing their voice to international discussions, workin g 
with like -minded partners to amplify our impact and most importantly delivering on the needs of 
SMEs through our projects. We believe that small businesses and trade are critical to building WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  sustainable and inclusive economies. We thank our funders for t heir support and continued 
investments in our work, our partners for their collaboration across our projects and regions and 
look forward to continued engagement with you over the course of the year.  
241.  In reaction to the presentation by ITC, the representati ve of Nepal, on behalf of the LDCs , 
delivered the following statement:  
242.  LDC Group would like to thank ITC its presentation and updates. I appreciate your priority 
given to LDCs, sub –Saharan Africa, landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), small island devel oping 
States (SIDS), small and vulnerable economies (SVEs), and conflict -affected countries.  LDC Group 
welcomes ITC’s plan for 2023 to deliver trade -related technical assistance worth 
146 million  US dollar in 2023. Also, the target set for the international competitiveness especially to 
the MSMEs are interesting area for us.  The LDC Group is of the v iew that sustainability and 
effectiveness should always remain in the centre of the intervention and the intervention should be 
based on the national priority.   
243.  Chair, let me speak few points on my national capacity.  My delegation would like to thank ITC 
for its technical expertise while implementing different projects in Nepal.  Currently, ITC is providing 
its technical expertise in the implementation of Trade and Investment program supported by 
EU Delegation.  The promotion of Chyangra Pashmina, products fo rm the fibre of the Himalayan 
goats, and Coffee value chains are the main parts of the program.  I would like to take this 
opportunity to thank the EU Delegation for its financial support to support implement ation of  the 
Trade and Investment Program.  
244.  In res ponse to a question from the EU,  the ITC invited Members to consult its website where 
information on the World Export Development Forum, taking place in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 
26-29 June 2023 was available.  
245.  In response to the statement by the ITC, the representative of Cambodia  made the following 
statement:  
246.  We welcome the brief report made by the ITC. It is highly welcome especially the ITC’s plan 
for 2023 with priorities extended to also the LDCs. It is well noted that ITC is one of the important 
supporters of development along with the development agenda of  the Government of Cambodia. We 
commit to engage and work closely with the ITC including our recent participation in SheTrades 
Outlook initiative, financially supported by the UK government. Finally, my delegation would like to 
align its position with the statement  made by the  LDCs.  
V. MONITORING AND EVALUATION OF IMPLEMENTATION AND DEVELOPMENT  
EFFECTIVENESS  
247.  The Secretar y provided an overview of the draft self -assessment M&E questionnaires : the 
questionnaire was more succinct than  that in previous iteratio ns, with approximate ly 25 questions  
in total. As per past practice, t he questionnaire was addressed to four constituencies ( i.e. partner 
countries, regional economic communities and transport corridors, bilateral donors and international 
financial institutions,  and providers of South -South  assistance ). 
248.  He then provided an overview of the questionnaire structure. The first section (A) of the 
questionnaire survey ed national development strategy priorities. The next topic (B) e xamined was 
national trade priorities found in the national development strategy or other documents. A further 
set of questions  (C) cover ed how the priorities in the national development and trade strategies 
were financed, including through access to Aid -for-Trade support. An additional topic 
covered  (D) was alignment of Aid -for-Trade support with the priorities of partner countries. Another 
area (E) to be discussed was the outcomes and impacts. The final area (F) on which questions were 
posed was future need for Aid -for-Trade support.  He added that the draft questionnaire would be 
circulated the following week in order to test it, including among  trainees and other stakeholders  
who desired to do so. C omment s from Members  would then be invited.  
249.  The representative of India observed that it would be good to keep the  questionnaire precise, 
contextual and strictly linked to Aid for Trade . He invited the Secretariat to share the four sets of  WT/COMTD/AFT/M/58  
 
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  questionnaires addressed to  all stakeholders  so all formats cou ld be reviewed, to which the 
representative of  the Secretariat agreed.  
250.  The representative of Nepal, on behalf of the  LDCs, made the following  statement : 
251.  LDC Group would like to thank the Secretariat for its presentation on the self-assessment  
questionnaire  examining "Mainstreaming Trade" . We welcome your intensive work.  In our 
preliminary observation, it seems that the questions will be designed in main six border sections 
incorporating our previous suggestions; as we see some s paces for improvement, the LDC Group 
will send its written and detailed reaction s to the Secretariat.  
252.  The Chair indicated that questionnaire s would be circulated to Member s the week following 
the meeting and called for written comments to be sent before c lose of business on 2 June 2023. He 
would then review comments and decide how best to address them. He then indicated his wish to 
circulate the final version of the questionnaire s before the summer break . 
253.  The Chair also informed that he wo uld call a n informal meeting of the CTD Aid for Trade on 
28 June 2023 on the M&E self -assessment formats. He added that an Aid -for-Trade workshop on 
"Leveraging South-South Aid for  Trade and Triangular Cooperation for Sustainable Development"  
would be organized as part of the 2023 -2024 Aid-for-Trade Work P rogramme. The workshop would 
aim to examine how S outh-South and Triangular cooperation are ad dressing the supply-side and 
infrastructure constrains of fellow dev eloping  count ries. A date for the event would be communica ted 
with the convening notice  for the formal CTD meeting .  
C. OTHER BUSINESS  
254.  No comments were provided under this agenda item.  
255.  The meeting was adjourned . 
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