WT/MIN(15)/ST/86  
 
21 December 2015  
(15-6813)  Page: 1/1  
Ministerial Conference 
Tenth Session 
Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MS LILIANE PLOUMEN 
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN TRADE AND DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION 
NETHERLANDS  
Last week the world’s eyes were on Paris. This week they’re on Nairobi. In Paris, multilateralism 
produced results. It is our ambition that the same thing happens in Nairobi.  The world is changing rapidly. Whether it is on climate, migration, terrorism, or trade and 
investment.  International markets expand fast, with  global and regional value chains linking trade 
and investment. Trade barriers are hampering invest ment, while industry and services are rapidly 
becoming more integrated. Global value chains present new opportunities to join the international 
economy. But many developing countries – especially the least developed ones – are still 
struggling to find a way in.  
Recently we agreed on the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, including the Sustainable 
Development Goals which will guide trade and investment the next 15 years.  The world emerging is increasingly complex and multipolar. We’re more connected with each other 
than ever before. Converging towards multilateral solutions is getting more difficult, but 
multilateral cooperation has never been more important. When it comes to issues like sustainable development and extreme poverty, we need each other more than ever. 
 
International trade has an essential role to play in all of this. If we’re to achieve our goals we need effective, rule-based cooperation. That’s why the Netherlands has always been a firm advocate of 
the WTO. And will remain so. The role of the WTO’s in the international trade system is recognised 
by many others. This role can’t be taken for granted. The multilateral trading system embodied in the WTO is very strong, however, lack of prog ress on the negotiating front can undermine the 
position of the WTO. 
 
We’ve been negotiating the Doha development agen da since 2001. But we have little to show so 
far. This week the WTO ministerial conference is being held in Africa for the very first time. 
Marking a shift in the world’s economic landscape. Being in Nairobi comes with a greater 
responsibility. Can we really afford to leave Afri ca and go back home without concrete results for 
this development round? 
 
We’ve already tempered our ambitions. But we can’t keep putting things off. So I call on everyone 
here to make sure we get results this week. On export competition. On a package for LDCs. On rules. And on the way forward.  
 
Agreeing on the Doha issues is crucial. Agriculture remains extremely important, especially in developing countries. In many LDCs farming accounts for 60 to 70 per cent of jobs. The poverty-
reducing effect of agricultural growth is 1.6 times that of industrial growth. 
 Agreeing on these issues is not enough. To keep the WTO as guardian of the multilateral system 
firmly in place we need to do mo re. We need to make sure the multilateral system keeps pace with 
what’s happening in the real economy.  So let’s use this week to create an ambitious Nairobi package. And let’s agree to join forces and 
explore new ways of keeping the WTO and the multilateral system relevant for the next 20 years.  
 As I said, this week all eyes are on Nairobi. And Nairobi deserves the same praise as Paris. 
__________