WT/MIN(15)/ST/28  
18 December 2015  
(15-6749)  Page: 1/2  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: French  
 
  STATEMENT BY H.E. MR HENRI RABESAHALA 
MINISTER OF TRADE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS 
MADAGASCAR  
It is a privilege and a great honour for me to have the opportunity, on behalf of my country 
Madagascar, to address this distinguished gather ing at the Tenth Ministerial Conference of the 
World Trade Organization.  
I should like first of all to join preceding speakers in congratulating you, Your Excellency 
Mrs Amina Mohammed, and through you, all your colleagues in the Government, for the inspiring organization of this Tenth WTO Ministerial Conference under your able guidance. I am proud for 
Africa. 
 I should also like, on behalf of the Malagasy delegation and in my own name, to convey my 
heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Kenya for the warm reception and hospitality 
extended to us since our arrival in this beautiful country.  I would also like to thank Mr Roberto Azevêdo and the entire WTO team for their laudable efforts 
to lay the necessary groundwork for the holding of this Ministerial Meeting and the smooth conduct 
of our deliberations.  
I also take this opportunity to congratulate the countries that have recently become Members of 
our Organization, which yet again, is evidence of the credibility of the multilateral trading system, despite some negative opinions. 
 
We acknowledge that the DDA negotiations are stalling, despite the strong determination of everyone to ensure the longevity of the multilateral  trading system and to create a climate of trust 
and stability. 
 
A great many of our citizens are expecting tangible  results from the negotiations that will take 
place during this Tenth Ministerial Conference and are hoping that a consensus will finally be 
reached on the issues where differences persist. 
 As a predominantly agricultural country with unquestionable potential, Madagascar accords special 
importance to the progress of the negotiations on agriculture, inter alia , to maintaining the 
flexibilities provided for products from LDCs, sp ecial and differential treatment, as well as all 
means that will help preserve jobs and make this sector viable and sustainable.  
Accordingly, all Members, and in particular developed and developing countries that are in a 
position to do so, are strongly urged to devote priority attention to LDCs and accord them flexibilities as well as technical and financia l support designed to boost their economies. 
 
Madagascar fully endorses the statements delivered by Bangladesh on behalf of the LDCs, by Barbados on behalf of the ACP Group of countries and by Lesotho on behalf of the African Group. 
 
I take this opportunity to thank donor countries under Phase 1 of the Enhanced Integrated Framework, the only Aid-for-Trade initiative designed for LDCs, as well as those countries that have already announced their intention to contri bute under Phase 2, and further call on other 
countries to provide more support for this mechanism during and after this Conference. WT/MIN(15)/ST/28 
- 2 - 
   
Madagascar acknowledges that the negotiations are difficult, but is still convinced as regards 
buttressing the system so as to meet the needs of developing countries and in particular the least developed among them. 
 
To this end, we call for the strengthening of all instruments that may be conducive to cooperation for the development of the most vulnerable count ries and to ensuring follow-up of commitments 
by making them binding rather than mere statements of intent, so that there can be a package in 
favour of LDCs at the end of this Conference.  We have just undergone our third trade policy review  this year, an exercise in transparency that 
shows our determination to press ahead in the pursuit of our objective of deriving maximum 
benefit from participation in the multilateral trading system.  
In UNCTAD, Madagascar just completed its investment policy review less than two weeks ago in 
Geneva. Given the unquestionable link between trade and investment, this process offers us a solution for developing our exports of goods and services in the years ahead. 
 
At the domestic level our Parliament has just auth orized the ratification of the Trade Facilitation 
Agreement, and the National Committee will be set up at the start of next year.  
The whole world has high expectations of our Organization, and I would like to say that no 
mistakes will be tolerated, aside from all forms of ambition, so that the confidence reposed in the multilateral trading system does not prove to be misplaced. 
 
I would like our entire Organization to display mutual tolerance so as to ensure the success of our Conference and reach a consensus on the deve lopment dimension of the post-Nairobi work 
programme. 
 
__________