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Roberto Azevêdo 
  Director-General 
 
 
 
 
 27 October 2015 
 
  
 
Dear Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives,  
 I am pleased to forward with this letter the 20
th version of the Evolving Table on Cotton 
Development Assistance (WT/CFMC/6/Rev.19) 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) registers contributions from Australia, Brazil, 
the European Union (and some of its Member States) and the United States, as well as from the IMF. Of particular significance is the support from  Brazil, China and India on the platform of South-
South Co-operation. 
 
I am also pleased to share with Members the updated numerical values in the ET which 
show that progress is continuing on the implementation of commitments under the development 
assistance aspects of cotton. There has been, in particular, an improvement in the ratio between commitments and disbursements in Part I, which relates to "Cotton Specific Development Assistance", while that ratio in Part II, which lists "Agriculture and Infrastructure-Related 
Development Assistance", has remained stable.  
 The commitments and disbursements of active operational activities in the latest ET are 
highlighted as follows:   
 
 In Part I, on Cotton Specific Development Assistance , the number of individual 
beneficiaries decreased to 28 from 30, whereas the total number of commitments 
increased to 35 from 34. The total value of commitments slightly decreased to US$226.4 million from US$247.1 in the previous version, mainly due to the transfer of 
several completed projects to the relevant Annex. The disbursement flows increased 
by US$10.1 million to reach US$102.3 million. Th e ratio of total disbursements to total 
commitments reached 45%, compared to 37% earlier.  
 
 In Part II, on Agriculture and Infrastructure-Related Development Assistance , 
the number of individual beneficiaries incr eased to 32 from 27, while the total number 
of commitments decreased to 54 from 57. The total value of these commitments 
increased to US$4.97 billion and the disburse ment flows increased by US$50 million to 
reach US$3.05 billion. The ratio of total di sbursements to total commitments slightly 
decreased to 61% from 63%.   
 
. /. WTO   OMC  
- 2 - 
 
 
 
I am also attaching the 12th version of the Table on Domestic Cotton Sector Reforms 
(WT/CFMC/21/Rev.11), reflecting new contributions from Benin and Mali, as well as the 
continuation of the efforts undertaken by Burkina Faso and Chad. These updates show the 
progress that the cotton proponents are making in reforming their cotton sector.  
The 24
th Round of the DGCFMC is scheduled to take place in the morning of 
27 November 2015. The fourth Dedicated Discussion on the Relevant Trade-related Developments 
on Cotton, chaired by Ambassador Vitalis, the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session, will take place back-to-back with the 24
th Round, in the afternoon of the same day.  
 
The enclosed documents will form the basis for the 24th Round of Consultations of the 
Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton, which will be chaired by DDG David Shark on my 
behalf.   
 
        
Yours sincerely, 
  
 
 
 
 
Roberto Azevêdo