WT/MIN(13)/ST/115  
 
12 February 2014  
(14-0843)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Ninth Session 
Bali, 3-6 December 2013  Original: English  
 
 STATEMENT BY HON. FONOTOE NUAFESILI PIERRE LAUOFO 
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER; AND MINISTER OF TRADE, 
COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND LABOUR 
SAMOA 
I congratulate Mr Roberto Azevêdo on his appointment as the Director General of the WTO.  I 
commend his commitment, optimism and untiring pursuit since he took office, especially here in Bali, to revive the Doha Development Round to secure a successful outcome of this meeting. 
 
When I last addressed this august body in 2011 as Samoa was welcomed as the 155th Member of the WTO, I emphasized our commitment to participate actively in this multilateral rules-based 
trading system. That commitment remains today.   
 We have witnessed the rise in regional engage ment and globalization creating important trade 
opportunities for developing countries through Global Value Chains. The multilateral trade rules, 
now more than ever, need to be rebalanced and strengthened.  In doing so, development must be 
at the core of the negotiations for the WTO to remain relevant and useful to its member states, particularly developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs). 
 
Technical and financial assistance and capacity building must also be an integral part of these negotiations. This is fundamental in addressi ng supply side constraints; and the long-term 
development of human capital and infrastructure. 
 As a Least Developed Country (LDC), the Enhanc ed Integrated Framework (EIF) has provided 
significant trade related support for Samoa. On the 1st January 2014, Samoa officially graduates 
from its LDC status. We urge the EIF, WTO and other development partners, to adopt a 
sustainable (new) approach to ensure the continua tion of assistance to LDC graduating countries 
and recently graduated Least Developed countries, if such assistance is required on a case by case 
basis.  
 Samoa supports the LDC package and reaffirms the Pacific FIC-WTO members’ emphasis on 
special and differential treatment given the unique circumstances of LDCs and Small Vulnerable 
Economies.   
Samoa is honoured to be hosting the 3rd United Nations International Conference on Small Island 
Developing States (SIDS) in Apia, in September 2014. With the theme of building partnerships, the world’s attention will be focused on a group of countries that remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique and particular vulnerabilities.   
 
The cost of unending negotiations is the loss of relevance and confidence in the WTO and the multilateral trading system. Success in Bali is too important to forego. We have come a long way 
in closing the gaps and finding the balance of our diverse interests. I strongly encourage the 
Director General to keep up the momentum of hi s campaign to find ‘landing zones’ for the few 
remaining unresolved issues here in Bali. 
 
I congratulate the Government of Yemen on the co nclusion of their accession to the WTO. From 
experience, the accession process itself, although cumbersome, tiring and long, is an overall invaluable driver of necessary reforms to mainstream trade into national development policies. 
 WT/MIN(13)/ST/115 
 
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  As I close, I must say that we were honoured with the presence of the President of Indonesia, the 
Honourable Dr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the opening of our deliberations. I sincerely thank you Mr Chairman for your leadership in chairing this meeting. I also thank the Government and the people of Indonesia for their excellent hospitality. 
 
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