WT/MIN(15)/ST/75
21 December 2015
(15-6804)  Page: 1/2
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: English
 
STATEMENT BY HON. JOSEPH MWANAMVEKHA 
MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND TRADE 
MALAWI 
Let me join those that have spoken before me in  thanking the Government and the People of the 
Republic of Kenya for graciously hosting this Ministerial Conference and for the warm hospitality accorded to me and my delegation since our arrival in this beautiful city of Nairobi. I would also like to express my appreciation to you, Madam Ch airperson; the Director General of the WTO; and 
the Chairman of the General Council as well as the Secretariat of the WTO for the pivotal role you 
have played in organizing this important Conference.   
I would like to preface my statement by underlining  the need for the multilateral trading system to 
be responsive to the needs and economic conditions of member states, particularly the least developed country member countries such as my  country, Malawi.  As we are all aware the 
outcomes of the Uruguay Round of trade negotiations had inherent serious imbalances which have 
negatively affected efforts by least developed co untries to integrate into the global economy.  
 In 2001, the whole WTO membership met in Doha, Qatar and agreed on the development agenda 
which was acceptable to all of us. The Doha round generated high hopes of sustainable economic 
growth and prosperity among developing countries  and least developed countries. The progress of 
the DDA to date, 14 years since the launch of the negotiations, is rather disappointing and not 
reflective of the high hopes instilled at the beginning  of DDA. May be it is high time a question is 
asked as to what can be done in the multilateral  trading system that can achieve the development 
objectives envisaged in the DDA. Perhaps, there is need to  devise global econometric models that 
would equitably take care of concerns of all players, particularly developing countries, including 
LDCs.   The Malawi Government believes that the multilateral trading systems would be meaningful to 
LDCs if its outcome entails the establishment of a fair and pro-development rules-based trading 
system, which enhances our trade potential and creates sufficient policy space for our continued development. Malawi therefore advocates persistently that development is intrinsic in the 
multilateral trading framework. In this respect, my delegation fully associates itself with the 
Statements made by the coordinators of the ACP, Africa, and LDCs Groups.  
As a country which has premised its development on a trade based economic strategy, Malawi is 
committed to the WTO and its ability to help create an international trade environment and rules-based system as an integral part of global ec onomic and trade governance.  In this respect, 
Madam Chairperson we welcome the proposed package for LDCs on duty free quota free; 
preferential rules of origin; services waiver; TRIPS extension; and cotton issues as LDCs’ 
deliverables for Nairobi.   
Given our geographical challenge as a landlocked Least Developed country, Malawi has a vital 
stake in the negotiations on Trade Facilitation . Malawi fully endorses the objectives of the 
Agreement on Trade Facilitation (ATF) and the country has technically finalized all the necessary 
steps leading to the acceptance and ratification of the protocol for ATF and is just awaiting 
signature of the State President as protocol dema nds. We therefore call on our developed country 
partners to guarantee that our requests for technical and financial assistance will be entertained as detailed in the national schedule of commitments. In addition, due to the vital importance of this 
agreement towards facilitating trade, I would urge those countries that have not yet ratified or are WT/MIN(15)/ST/75 
 
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  in the process of ratification to expedite the ratifi cation process so that the benefits to be realized 
from this agreement are realized soon.  LDCs like Malawi are unable to take full advantag e of the preferential market access opportunities 
offered to them due to a number of trade-related supply side constraints.  These include high 
transport costs, stringent Sanitary and Phytosanit ary requirements and private standards, buyers’ 
requirements and complicated Rules of Origin, trade procedures and documentation. Measures to 
address these constraints will make a significant contribution towards achieving the Sustainable 
Development Goals (SDG) and assist the Malawi Government in implementing its developmental plans and agenda.  For this reason, Malawi is requesting additional resources through Aid for Trade and the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) initiatives to deal with these supply side 
constraints. I would like to support continuation of the EIF Phase 2 programme to realize its 
sustainable objectives. In particular I wish to applaud donors for massive contribution towards the EIF Trust Fund. The guiding principles of the programme, namely ownership by LDCs, more 
substantial and predictable financial resources, more effective coordination and governance of the 
programme, and a focus on the results, are a re cipe for success ahead. We are confident that 
initiatives such as EIF and Aid for Trade will help Malawi diversify her export base and improve our 
participation in world trade which is currently very negligible.  
 Malawi acknowledges the role played by the EU, UNCTAD, ITC, UNDP, and the World Bank, in assisting developing and least-developed countries in building their capacities in the trade sector 
among others and in particular, I call for increase d and continued support to Malawi.  Malawi also 
appreciates the bilateral technical assistance provided by development partners.  
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate Malawi's commitment to the WTO and the multilateral 
trading system.  Malawi, like any other least developed country, will strive to contribute to the strengthening of the multilateral trading system despite our limited financial and human resources. 
My delegation is hopeful that MC10 will be anothe r opportunity to deliver on these pressing issues. 
We however, call on a heightened sense of urgenc y, mutual understanding and flexibility to close 
the gaps in all the negotiating areas.  
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