WT/MIN(17)/ST/112  
8 January  2018 
(18-0105) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original:  French  
 
  
STATEMENT CIRCULATED BY H.E.  MR RÉNOVÂT TABU  
AMBASSADOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE TO THE WTO  
BURUNDI  
As a least developed and landlocked country, Burundi faces a considerable number of challenges 
when it comes to integrating  successfully  into the multilateral trading system . In order to do so, it 
first needs to build up its supply capacity and thoroughly alter its economic structures, as is the 
case for any least developed country (LDC).  
 
To th at end, it has opted for an open trade policy and the strengthening of regional integration as 
priorities within the Strategic Framework for Growth and Poverty Reduction . Along the same lines, 
the trade policy review carried out by the WTO in 2012 h ighlighted the considerable progress that 
our country has made in improving its business climate, facilitating trade, and promoting and 
developing trade and investment.  
 
Burundi thus understands that if they are  to be able to use trade as a potential drive r for equitable 
and sustainable development, and more specifically for poverty reduction, LDCs must seek to 
secure a greater and more effective presence  in the development and management of the rules 
governing global and preferential trade . By taking an  active interest in those economic rules and 
regimes , they are more able  to respond appropriately on the supply side and thereby use market 
opportunities to enhance trad e and producti on, resulting in turn in a better social framework and, 
in the long term, less poverty.  
 
Furthermore , the commitment to development , to the cardinal principles of developing -country 
integration into the multilateral trading system and to special and differential treatment, in 
particular for LDCs,  must be reaffirmed during the co urse of this M inisterial Conference in the 
interests of achieving tangible outcomes that will enable the structural transformation, 
diversification and industrialization of our States.  
 
When it comes, moreover,  to ensuring a successful strengthening  of the multilateral trading 
system, Burundi is firmly of the view that all the issues that are of concern to the developing 
countries and LDCs must be favourably resolved here, during the current negotiations , so that we 
can move on to other  matters which  cannot , on account of the global developments we are now 
witnessing, be neglected , and which  make it essential for the WTO to continue to serve as the  only 
system that guarantees, and redresses the imbalances codified in, the trade rules, which are 
supposed to b e fair, durable, transparent and inclusive for all.  
 
Burundi wishes to express its sincere thanks to all of the donors that have provided it with 
considerable support in addressing its constraints to trade development . It particularly appreciates 
the suppo rt provided through the Enhanced Integrated Framework programme, a very successful 
initiative that is well -suited to the needs of the LDCs . Burundi would like to see the efforts to 
strengthen this programme being doubled or tripled, notwithstanding the dif ficulties that appear to 
be slowing it down during its second phase.  
 
Burundi considers, moreover, that important decisions were taken in previous sessions to enable 
the LDCs to increase their participation in international trade . The fact is, however, that the share 
of those countries in multilateral trade has diminished . There is thus an urgent need for WTO 
Members  to implement those decisions , having regard to the commitments already made, WT/MIN(17)/ST/112  
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  particularly with respect to the substantial reduction in agri cultural subsidies and other provisions 
in favour of the LDCs.  
 
Finally, my delegation sees the areas of agriculture (including cotton), services and fisheries  as 
playing a key role in multilateral trade, not only for reasons of food security, but also and  above all 
in connection with the deliberate choice to focus on those factors that will foster the policy of 
integrating the LDCs into global trade  and enable them to build up their supply capacity by adding 
value to the different resources and other expor ted commodities.  
 
Burundi hopes that the Buenos Aires Ministerial Conference will be marked by significant progress  
on the various issues that are of concern to our Organization.  
 
In conclusion , the delegation of Burundi endorses  the proposals and statements made by the 
African, ACP and LDC Groups during the course of this Ministerial Conference.  
 
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