RESTRICTED  
  
WT/COMTD/LDC/M/69  
 
8 October 2013  
(13-5484)  Page: 1/3  
Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries 
Sixty-Ninth Session    
 
   
NOTE OF THE MEETING OF 28 JUNE 2013 
Chairperson:  Ambassador Steffen Smidt (Denmark) 
A. ADOPTION OF TH E AGENDA .................................................................................... 1  
B. DRAFT WTO WORK PROGRAMME FOR THE LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
(WT/COMTD/LDC/W/57) ................................................................................................ 1  
C. ARRANGEMENT TO FACILITATE  THE PARTICIPATION OF 
LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIE S IN THE NINTH WTO MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
TO BE HELD FROM 3 TO  6 DECEMBER  2013 ...................................................................... 2  
D. OTHER BUSINESS .................................................................................................... 3  
 
 
A. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA 
1. The Sub-Committee adopted the draft agenda contained in WTO/AIR/4150. 
B. DRAFT WTO WORK PROGRAMME FO R THE LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
(WT/COMTD/LDC/W/57) 
2. The Chairman recalled that informal consultations had been held in the months of April and 
June to resolve some outstanding issues relating to the update of the current WTO Work 
Programme for the LDCs. Based on these consultations, a draft WTO Work Programme had been 
circulated to Members on 20 June 2013, contained in document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/57. He expressed hope that Members would be able to adopt the draft Work Programme. 
3. The representative of Nepal, on behalf of th e LDC Group, recalled that the development of 
the initial Work Programme for the LDCs back in  2002 was an important undertaking by the WTO 
Members. That was done in recognition of the urgent need of meaningfully integrating the LDCs 
into the multilateral trading system, and the need to find appropriate trade-related support 
measures in favour of LDCs. That Work Programme identified a number of elements which were of vital interest to the LDCs, and which provided useful thematic guidance to the Sub-Committee's work and a broader framework for what the WTO could and should do for the LDCs. 
4. He went on to say that the update of the Work Programme was long overdue. To this effect, 
the LDC Group submitted a proposal at the beginni ng of this exercise. He noted that the draft 
Work Programme placed before the Sub-Commi ttee fell short of meeting the LDC Group's 
expectations; some of the references that the LDC Group would have liked reflected in the 
document did not find its place. Nevertheless, th e Group showed flexibility in accommodating the 
viewpoints of all Members. He thanked Members for their constructive engagement during the 
informal consultations. He also thanked the Chairman for his efforts in resolving some of the 
outstanding issues. He believed that the draft Wo rk Programme would provide the right context in 
the work under the aegis of the Sub-Committee. He requested that the Sub-Committee adopt the draft Work Programme.  
5. The representative of the European Union reiterated that her delegation had been supportive 
of updating of the Work Programme since th e beginning of this exercise. She expressed WT/COMTD/LDC/M/69 
 
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  appreciation for the constructive spirit that marked the informal and formal discussions on the 
issue, and for the flexibility and efficiency shown by all delegations involved. She indicated that her 
delegation could go along with the adoption of the draft Work Programme. 
6. The representative of the United States  expressed appreciation for the Chair's efforts in 
facilitating the consultations. He also apprecia ted the constructive engagement by the LDC Group 
as well as by other Members. He said that his delegation could join the consensus in adopting the draft Work Programme. 
7. The representative of Turkey thanked all Memb ers which participated in the consultations. 
He noted that the consultations yielded results at a rapid pace, and well before the Bali Ministerial 
Conference. He extended his support to th e adoption of the draft Work Programme. 
8. The Chairman proposed that the Sub-Committee adopt the draft Work Programme contained 
in document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/57. He said that  following the adoption of the draft Work 
Programme, the document would be issued as WT/COMTD/LDC/11/Rev.1. He further said that as per the established procedure, he would make a report to Members on this agreed Work 
Programme at the next meeting of the General Council. 
9. It was so agreed. 
C. ARRANGEMENT TO FACILITATE THE PARTICIPATION OF LEAST-DEVELOPED 
COUNTRIES IN THE NINTH WTO MINISTERIAL C O N F E R E N C E  T O  B E  H E L D  F R O M  3  T O  
6 DECEMBER 2013  
10. The Chairman invited the Secretariat to provide a report on the arrangements to facilitate 
the participation of LDCs in the Bali Ministerial Conference to be held from 3 to 6 December 2013. 
11. The representative of the Secretariat (Mr. John Breckenridge, Administration and General 
Services Division) briefed the Sub-Committee on the arrangements being made to facilitate the 
participation of eligible LDCs at the Ninth WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in Bali, Indonesia, 
from 3 to 6 December 2013.  
12. He said that in order to facilitate the participation of LDCs at the WTO Ministerial 
Conferences, trust funds were established to co ver the travel and accommodation costs for LDC 
delegations comprising one Minister and two high-l evel officials. A trust fund to facilitate the 
participation of LDC officials at the Ninth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC9) was announced in the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration in October 2012 via document WT/BFA/W/288. He noted that while some funds had carried over from the trust fund set up for the same purpose 
for the previous Ministerial Conference, additional funding would be required. Following reminders 
at the Committee on Budget, Finance and Administration as well as the last meeting of the General Council, some donors had begun to express interest in contributing additional resources to the 
trust fund.  
13. He pointed out that the trust fund had made provisions for estimated costs of air travel, 
accommodation and per diem allowances. He explaine d that air travel would be based on Business 
Class for the Minister and Economy Class for the two other officials of the delegation. 
Accommodation would be arranged in Bali for WTO-funded participants. Cash allowances, as applicable, would be paid on site. Transportati on to and from the Ministerial venue would be 
provided for the participants. He added that further details concerning the procedures and 
allowances would be provided directly to nominated representatives. He emphasized the 
importance of completing the registration and accreditation by the WTO-funded participants before the Secretariat proceeded with the arrangements related to their travel to Bali. He invited the 
LDCs to follow the procedures outlined in Info rmation Notes on MC9 (the first one contained in 
document WT/MIN (13)/INF/6 was issued on 27 June 2013, to be followed with additional Notes) and to promptly proceed with registration and accreditation. 
14. He continued by saying that an Information Session for Geneva-based delegates was held at 
the WTO on 6 June 2013, during which the Indone sian Task Force made a presentation on the 
arrangements for MC9. Participants were provided general information, for example on registration 
and accreditation, hotel accommodation, visa requirements, courtesy services to delegations, WT/COMTD/LDC/M/69 
 
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  conference facilities, and security arrangements. He invited delegations to review the PowerPoint 
Presentation and a Logistics Brochure that were  distributed electronically to delegation 
coordinators following that session which contained useful information relevant to all delegations intending to attend the MC9. 
15. He said that invitation relating to accessing funding through the trust fund would be sent to 
all eligible LDCs in the month of August 2013. He invited delegations to submit their nominations promptly, as travel arrangements would need to be made as soon as possible. He reminded the 
LDCs that the deadline for submitting nominations was 13 September 2013. He further said that 
as per usual practice, the Secretariat would appreciate the designation of delegation Coordinator who could facilitate communicating additional information on logistics and other arrangements whenever such information became available.  
16. In conclusion, he informed Members that the arrangements for the participation of LDCs at 
MC9 would be handled within the Secretariat by the Administration and General Services Division, under the supervision of the Ministerial Conference Logistical Coordinator, and that further details 
would come in the context of the invitation le tter to be sent in the month of August 2013. 
17. The representative of Nepal, on behalf of the LDC Group, thanked the Secretariat for the 
presentation, and for the arrangements being made to facilitate the participation of LDC 
delegations at MC9. He also thanked Members for their contributions to the trust fund. The LDCs 
would remain engaged with the Secretariat, as they started making necessary arrangements for MC9. He found the presentation useful and requested that a copy of it be provided to his delegation. 
18. The representative of Burkina Faso thanked the Secretariat for the update on the 
preparations for MC9, notably with regard to LDC participation. He noted that information on 
delegation coordinators needed to be submitted to the Secretariat as soon as possible. He also 
assumed that if there were no changes in the desi gnation of a Delegation Coordinator, no further 
notification was required to be submitted to the Secretariat. In this regard, he sought further details on the responsibilities of delegation coordinators including clarification as to whom in the 
Secretariat that information on delegation coordinators was to be furnished.  
19. The representative of the European Union thanked the Secretariat for the update. Her 
delegation attached high importance to the proper representation of LDCs at MC9. As was the case 
for the previous Ministerial Conferences, the European Union, and many of its member States, 
would be making a voluntary contribution to the special trust fund. She said that necessary 
procedures for making these co ntributions were under way. 
20. The representative of the Secretariat said that details about the delegation coordinators 
were contained in the document WT/MIN/(13)/INF/6 circulated on 27 June 2013. He encouraged 
the representative of Burkina Faso to consult that document which he believed would answer the queries that the representative of Burkina Faso made at the meeting. 
21. The Chairman suggested that a meeting could be organized at a later date between the 
Secretariat and LDC delegations seeking further information about their participation at MC9.  
22. It was so agreed. 
D. OTHER BUSINESS  
23. The Chairman said that the next meeting of  the Sub-Committee was tentatively scheduled 
for September 2013.1 The exact date would be communicated in due course. 
24. In the absence of any other business, the meeting was adjourned. 
 
 
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1 The meeting was rescheduled for 10 October 2013.