WT/MIN(13)/23  
5 December 2013  
(13-6672)  Page: 1/1  
Ministerial Conference 
Ninth Session 
Bali, 3-6 December 2013  Original: English  
 
G-15 JOINT STATEMENT 
The following communication, dated 5 December 2013,  is being circulated at the request of the 
Delegation of Sri Lanka on behalf of the G-15. 
 
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I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Fifteen (G-15), a Summit 
Level Group of Developing Countries, comprising 17 member states
1. The Group was established in 
1989 on the firm belief that there is a growing interdependence and mutuality of interest among 
the community of nations for sustainable developm ent. With the global economic and financial 
outlook in turmoil and growth prospects in deve loping countries under severe stress, the Group 
reaffirms the importance it attaches to the rules-based multi-lateral trading system.  
 
At the outset, allow me to congratulate you Mr. Chairman, on your election, and to assure you our full support as we work together towards a successful Ninth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC9).  
The Group also wishes to welcome and congratulate the new Director-General of WTO, 
H.E. Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, who at a time played an important role in the Troika of the Group. We are confident that he will be able to provide a credible leadership at this critical juncture in the 
history of the multi-lateral trading system.  
 The Group emphasizes its call for a fresh impetus at MC9 for early conclusion of the Doha 
Development Agenda with a development-oriented outcome as in it lies much hope for developing 
countries for boosting their share of global trade and addressing the challenges of the multilateral trading system. The Group also recognizes and reit erates the need to enhance efficacy of Aid for 
Trade for improving trade competitiveness, capacity and better integration of developing countries 
into the international trading system.  
 The Group emphasizes the importance of facilitating accession to the WTO and calls for expediting 
the accession of developing countries and in particular, the LDCs, in a transparent manner and 
without any political impediment. The Group underscores that swift advancement in this regard would be critical in enhancing universality and inclusiveness of WTO and the multi-lateral trading 
system.  
 The Group welcomes increasing trade and investment flows among developing countries and stresses the importance of united and sustained international engagement in favour of a more 
equitable, inclusive and development oriented multi-lateral trading system.  
 The Group looks forward to an engaged participatio n in the post-Bali negotiations, with a view to 
concluding Doha Round as early as possible, with  agreements on all elements of the agenda, and 
with a clear focus on development, as per our agreed vision when launching the round. Our work ahead must be based on the principles of  full transparency and inclusiveness.  
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1Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Islamic Re public of Iran, Jamaica, Kenya, 
Malaysia, Mexico, Nigeria, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and Zimbabwe.