WT/MIN(24)/ST/34  
26 February  2024 
(24-1514) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original:  Spanish  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR JESÚS BERMÚDEZ CARVAJAL  
MINISTER OF DEVELOPMENT, INDUSTRY AND TRADE  
NICARAGUA  
On behalf of the Government of Reconciliation and National Unity of Nicaragua, the President, 
Commander Daniel Ortega, and the Vice  President, Rosario Murillo, I extend our fraternal greetings 
to the Members of the WTO  and especially to the Government of the United Arab Emirates as the 
host of  this Ministerial Conference.  
We reaffirm our commitment to the multilateral trading system and our support for comprehensive, 
consensual, fair and equitable reform that maintains the integrity, transparency and balanced 
development of the system while always remaining mindful of  real and effective special and 
differential treatment for small, vul nerable economies.  
Thanks to its economic, political and social development model, the Government of Nicaragua has 
laid the foundations for progressive, inclusive and sustainable development and economic growth, 
with a focus on promoting the social  benefit s, and the increase, diversification and competitiveness, 
of domestic production and foreign trade for the benefit of the vast majority of our people.  
At this Conference, Nicaragua will therefore support the adoption of concrete decisions and outcomes 
that promote fair and equitable trade, through instruments that allow for the effective integration of 
vulnerable economies, with cross -cutting provisions and agreements on special and differential 
treatment, and transparency mechanisms that favour developing countries and least developed 
countries (LDCs).  
The adoption of the Joint Initiative on Investment Facilitation for Development is important for 
Nicaragua, as one of the main catalysts for development and economic growth is foreign investment. 
This Initiative will foster a predictable and transparent business environment for investment, which 
will lead to greater foreign investment flows to small economies and LDCs.  
Regarding the agricultural negotiations, Nicaragua considers that proposals that encourage t he use 
of public stockholding for food security purposes ought to be advanced , so that permanent decisions 
are adopted for the benefit of developing countries and small, vulnerable economies (SVEs) . 
Regarding the work programme on e -commerce, Nicaragua hop es for outcomes that favour 
developing countries and LDCs, as well as  for the implementation of multilateral provisions or 
commitments in line with the technological realities of Members, including  real and equitable 
technical and financial assistance for their proper adoption. E -commerce must  also become a 
development tool for our small economies.  
As Members we must be fully aware of the harm caused by adopting  unilateral measures that impact 
international trade  and then justifying them  as environmental measures  when they are in fact 
disguised non -tariff policies . This  only increase s technical barriers to trade. We consider that 
environmental objectives are link ed to international trade, therefore as governments we must foster 
appropriate environmental protection, taking into account the realities of our countries and the 
strong impact that we are facing owing to climate change for which we are not directly respo nsible, 
but that affects agricultural production and exports and thus our ability to deal with this great 
challenge.  WT/MIN(24)/ST/34  
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  We hope that this Ministerial Conference delivers positive outcomes in support of  achiev ing better 
living standards for our people.  
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