WT/MIN(24)/ST/127  
26 February 2024  
(24-1694) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Thirteenth  Session  
Abu Dhabi, 26 -29 February 2024  Original: French  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR AHMAT ABDELKERIM AHMAT  
MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE  
CHAD 
I have the singular honour of address ing this august gathering. I wish to congratulate the Secretariat 
of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and in particular, the Director -General, 
Dr. Ngozi  Okonjo -Iweala, for their efforts in preparing and organizing this Ministerial Conference. I 
should also  like to thank the United Arab Emirates for their warm welcome and hospitality.  
 
My delegation feels a strong sense of responsibility and urgency to act to address the concerns of 
the most vulnerable Members. This is why the success of MC13 requires concr ete progress on issues 
specific to our countr ies.  
 
It is crucial to ensure the effective implementation of decisions taken and monitored by various WTO 
bodies. We have taken important decisions in the past ( such as on duty-free and quota -free market 
acces s for LDCs , preferential rules of origin , the LDC services waiver , and decisions on cotton), but 
the implementation of these decisions continues to be reviewed by the relevant WTO bodies.  
 
We hope that the support measures adopted in favour of LDCs will a lso be extended to graduated 
LDCs, in accordance with Ministerial Decision proposal. We are convinced of the importance of 
ensuring smooth and sustainable graduation.  
 
LDCs, including Chad, represent the low -income -country category, which is most affected  by 
successive crises. Given the lack of diversification in their economies, LDCs have seen a decline in 
their share of world exports.  
 
We would urge all Members to give greater consideration to and integrate the priorities highlighted 
by LDCs. We must pr oduce outcomes at MC13, in which, in our view, the most fragile Members 
should receive special and differential treatment (S&DT).  
 
Chad calls for MC13 outcomes that will help to keep S&DT central to the WTO's work, so that the 
most vulnerable Members have  the necessary policy space to further their structural transformation 
and step up their production capacity.  
 
It is also important to tackle supply chain challenges , and to strive to address export restrictions, 
excessive customs procedures or access to inputs.  
 
With regard to the fisheries subsidies negotiations, we are seeking a fair and equitable agreement 
that shows that the WTO can contribute to the conservation of fish ery resources to ensure their 
sustainability.  
 
Agriculture, particularly cotton, is a strategically important sector for us in terms of both job creation 
and food security. Chad therefore hopes that the MC13 outcomes will set us clearly on the path to 
effective reform of the agriculture sector. We trust that MC13 will provide clear guidelines on how 
to approach this reform through a relevant work programme.  
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  It is crucial to chart a course that addresses specific objectives, namely trade -distorting domest ic 
support, including domestic support for the cotton sector; finding a permanent solution to public 
stockholding programmes for food security purposes; special safeguards; and transparency -related 
issues.  
 
Chad notes with satisfaction that all the evalua tions have confirmed the relevance of the Enhanced 
Integrated Framework (EIF) for LDCs and the promising tangible results obtained on the ground, in 
terms of both institutional capacity building and productive capacities. The EIF partnership is unique 
in that it is able to mobilize both the necessary financial resources and technical expertise to support 
LDCs' development efforts. Chad stresses that the EIF partnership principle should be upheld and 
strengthened with greater donor commitments. Continuing th e work of the EIF will undoubtedly 
allow these results to be scaled up and consolidated, enabling LDCs to be better integrated into 
global trade.  
 
Another point that we consider relevant is e -commerce. During the recent health crisis, it was found 
that th e companies that fared the best were those that had already gone digital. This is thanks to 
the dynamism and resilience of e -commerce. Thus, while reaffirming our commitment to the 1998 
Work Programme, Chad hopes that MC13 will deliver positive and equitab le outcomes on 
e-commerce so that no one is left behind.  
 
We also support a work programme aimed at reforming the WTO and the Appellate Body by ensuring 
the preservation of the fundamental principles and purpose of the WTO as a rules -based, 
consensus -driven, Member -led organization. Chad reaffirms its commitment to working with all WTO 
Members to make MC13 a success.  
 
Chad remains committed to working towards strengthening the multilateral trading system through 
concrete and measurable outcomes that will,  over time, have a significant impact on the living 
conditions of  millions of people in Africa who are unable to enjoy the benefits and opportunities that 
international trade has to offer.  
 
I should like to take this opportunity to reiterate our appeal to  all partners to mobilize the resources 
needed to carry out our structuring projects, designed to promote the production, processing and 
marketing of African cotton and its by -products.  
 
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