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Roberto Azevê do 
  Director -General         
 
 
 
8 June 2018 
 
 
 
 
Dear Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives,  
 
 I am enclosing  the latest  version of the Evolving Table on Cotton Developm ent Assistance 
(WT/CFMC/6/Rev. 24) for review by Members in advance of  the next Round of the 
Director -General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton (DGCFMC).    
 
 The updated version of  the Evolving Table (ET) contain s new contributions from  Brazil,  
Canada,  Colombia,  the EU , Germany,  Japan,  New Zealand, Switzerland  and the United  States , as 
well as  from the CFC, ITC,  UNCTAD  and the World Bank . Of particular significance is the support 
and contributions from Brazil, China,  India and Pakistan  on the platform of South -South 
Co-operation.  
 
I am pleased to report that the figures in the latest version of the ET show that project 
turnover  has continued , thus ensuring a steady level of  cotton -specific  development assi stance. 
The total number and value of projects listed in Part I  ("Cotton Specific Development Assistance" ) 
has remained stable , while the ratio of disbursements to commitments has decreased , due to the 
inclusion of three  new projects and the completion of several  projects . As regards Part II 
("Agriculture and Infrastructure -Related Development Assistance" ), there has been a  significant  
decrease in the total number and value of projects , due to the deletion of former incorrectly 
notified projects and the completion of sever al other projects .   
 
The following can be highlighted with regards to project commitments and disbursements in 
the latest version of the ET:   
 
 Part I on  Active  Cotton -Specific Development Assistance  Projects  shows stability in  
both the number of African  and other beneficiaries  (31 in total)  and that of active projects 
(26 in total). The total value of committed amounts has increased to  
US$204.2 million . Disbursement s decreased slightly , to US$ 96.7 million , with the ratio of 
total disbursements to total commitments  decreas ing to 47%.  
 Part II on Active Agriculture and Infrastructure -Related Development Assistance 
Projects  registers a decrease in the total number of projects  (down to 48 from 
63 previously) . Consequently, th e total value of commitme nts decreased to US$2.8 billion , 
with disbursement flows decreasing to US$976 million. These decreases are due to (i) the 
completion of a several  projects and (ii) the deletion of projects which had been incorrectly 
notified under Part II. Th is downward revisi on is  a sign of transparency and effective 
monitoring.   
  
 
 . /. WTO   OMC 
 
- 2 - 
 
 
Updates on Part III  of the Evolving Table, which contain s the coordinates of  national cotton 
sector focal points  established by assistance beneficiaries , have been received from Benin, Burkina 
Faso, Chad and Mali . I strongly encourage other benefic iaries to share updates on Part  III. 
 
I am also attach ing the 16th version of the Table on Domestic Cotton Secto r 
Reform s (WT/CFMC/21/Rev. 15), reflecting new contributions from Burkina Faso.  
 
The 2 9th Round of the DGCFMC will be held  in the morning of  19 June 2018. The ninth 
Dedicated D iscussion of  the Relevant Trade-related Developments  on C otton , chaired by  
Ambassador John Ford , will take place , back-to-back with the 2 9th Round , in the afternoon  of the 
same day .  
 
The enclosed documents will form the basis for the 2 9th Round of Consultations  of the 
Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton , which will be chaired by DDG Alan Wm. Wolff  on 
my behalf . 
 
 
Yours sincerely , 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Roberto Azevê do