WT/MIN(24)/ST/79  
26 February 2024  
(24-1611) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth  Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: French  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR SEYDOU ASMAN  
MINISTER OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY  
NIGER 
It is my pleasure to  begin by extending, on behalf of the President of the National Council for the 
Safeguard of the Homeland, Head of State H.E. Brigade General Abdourahamane Tiani , and 
Prime  Minister H.E. Mr Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine , our appreciation to the Government of t he 
United Arab Emirates for agreeing to host our work under the chairpersonship of H.E. Dr Thani bin 
Ahmed Al Zeyoudi , Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates.  
On behalf of my delegation, I also wish to convey our deep gratitude to  the UAE authorities for the 
warm welcome that we have received in Abu Dhabi , and for the practical arrangements that have 
been made for this Thirteenth WTO  Ministerial Conference.  
I would also like to pay a well -deserved tribute to the Director -General o f the WTO, 
Dr Ngozi  Okonjo -Iweala, for the remarkable work she does with the sole purpose of strengthening 
the multilateral trading system.  
The various crises currently affecting the world, namely geopolitical tensions, the security crisis and 
climate cha nge, have enormous negative repercussions  that imped e economic growth and 
undermin e our countries' efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.  
Against this difficult backdrop, Niger continues to face unfair, illegal and iniquitous financial and 
economic sanctions imposed on it by the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). 
These include border closures, freezing Niger's assets, and other measures that make it difficult to 
supply the country with essential products, including pharmaceuti cals, foodstuffs and other staple 
goods .  
We would like to thank Niger's friends, most notably  Mali, Burkina Faso and Togo, for their active 
solidarity, enabling us to overcome the difficulties facing our country.  
The Thirteenth  WTO Ministerial Conference is being held at a time when our countries are still waiting 
for other WTO Members, especially developed Members, and the international community, to 
effectively implement the decisions made in favour of  LDCs at previous confere nces, as well as the 
new programme of action for LDCs adopted in Doha in 2023.  
Among the issues under negotiation , top priorities for countries such as ours continue to include the 
need to reform the Agreement on Agriculture by prioritizing food security  and the fostering of 
resilience in agricultural trade to address the challenges of soaring world prices and supply chain  
disruptions . This must be done while keeping in mind the crucial role this sector plays in trade and 
economic development.  
The ongoing  negotiation process on phase 3 of the Enhanced Integrated Framework programme 
needs to be completed as soon as possible so that this programme  can fulfil its salutary role as the 
only trade support mechanism solely for LDCs.  WT/MIN(24)/ST/79  
 
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  However, I would like to appe al to all LDCs collectively to take better control of our destiny so as to 
emerge from the status of eternal recipients of assistance and take full advantage of the benefits of 
international trade.  
We are hopeful that the Thirteenth Ministerial Conference  will live up to the expectations of all WTO 
Members on all the subjects under negotiation. Niger stands ready to work constructively towards 
successful outcomes that will address all vulnerabilities and other structural challenges.  
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