WT/COMTD/AFT/W/82  
2 March  2020 
(20-1555) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Trade and Development  
Aid for Trade  Original:  French  
 
  
AID FOR TRADE: IMPORTANT ASPECTS FOR LDCS  
COMMUNICATION FROM CHAD  
ON BEHALF OF THE LDC GROUP  
The following  communication, dated  28 February  2020, is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of  Chad on behalf of the LDC Group . 
 
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1.1.  LDCs reaffirm the importance of international  cooperation  within the  multilat eral trading 
system , embodied at the WTO by the Aid for Trade Initiative  and its Enhanced Integrated Framework 
(EIF) dedicated to assisting  LDCs. Aid for Trade is a key mechanism for  fostering  the soci al and 
economic development of developing countries , particularly  LDCs, by strengthening supply -side 
capacit y and trade -related infrastructure . LDCs are important  beneficia ries of Aid for Trade flows ; 
their share today  stands at over one quarter of the  total amount of annual aid  earmarked  for trade  
and improved  integration into the global trading system . 
1.2.  From the perspective  of LDCs , certain key aspects should be underscored  regarding the 
objectives to be met  and for which  Aid for Trade can make a meaningful  contribution . 
1.3.  On the one hand , LDCs need to achieve diversification of their  production of goods and  services 
and strengthen their  productive capacities . Our countries must be ready  to better respond to global 
demand  -- domestic and foreign  -- and have the means to do so . In this way, we are aiming to  
enhance our industrial potential  and our capacity to produce a wider variety  of goods and  services, 
with higher added value , and be able to export to more markets . 
1.4.  On the other hand , realizing the trade potential of LDCs  and improving their integration  into 
world trade  – with the  expected positive  social benefits  in terms of job  creation  and poverty 
reduction  – is more firmly grounded  in regional and global value chains  and higher  participation in 
value chains both upstream and downstream . Any initiative aimed at promoting greater inclusion of 
our countries  in value chains  is likely to boost our economic  and trade diversification and make 
investment more attractive . 
1.5.  Also, in order to help realize the domestic and foreign trade potential of LDCs , our countries 
need to  improve their trade facilitation conditions , both in terms of physical  infrastruc ture, transport 
and logistics , and in terms of administrative procedures  as they relate to the release , clearance , and 
transit  of goods . Reducing  trade costs will thus be of major importance . 
1.6.  In the current globalized economy , in which information and comm unication technologies 
(ICTs) account for a large portion of the  production and marketing processes of goods and services, 
LDCs are in dire need of obtaining the requisite technological resources and mastering the way they 
function . This would facilitate t he distribution of our goods and  services and allow our  products to 
be known on the world market . Our mastery of ICTs  would also help improve  our own production  
processes , and thus our productivity . ICTs are instrumental in  the development of our  skills and our  
services, including in key sectors such as training , education , health , energy and transport . 
1.7.  The facet related to the development of the productive fabric , of the private sector,  and in 
particular of micro, small and  medium -sized enterprises (MSMEs) in LDCs , is crucial for the growth WT/COMTD/AFT/W/82  
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  of their economies  and for them to better integrate into world trade . MSMEs  account for the bulk of  
job creation . Aid for Trade can help expand  and consolidate our trading  MSMEs  by supporting them  
in their efforts to access financing , develop the skills of their workforce , and comply with quality 
standards  on domestic and foreign markets . 
1.8.  Aid for Trade programmes foster the development and  enhanced cohesion  of our societies , 
thanks i n large measure to the support for  greater participation of women and young people in value  
creation , and, by extension, linking commercial activities to the formal system . 
1.9.  LDCs must still overcome several challenges in order to  increase their  level of participation in 
the global trading system . Against this backdrop, LDCs wish to call on all  their development partners  
(bilateral and multilateral donors , South -South partners , the World Bank , multilateral development 
banks , privat e sector partners and other  trade-related international organi zations) to mobilize and 
channel  their resources so that Aid for Trade programmes  can have a  genuinely positi ve and real 
effect  in keeping  with the rationale  of the  Initiative (WT/AFT/1) . In such a context , institutions and 
local stakeholders  must remain at the centre of programme implementation in order to optimize 
results on a more inclusive and lasting  basis. 
1.10.   LDCs wish t o underscore, furthermore,  the importance of Aid for Tra de as assistance granted  
under favourable terms and conditions , in support of development programmes and strategies as 
identified by LDCs . We wish to add that this type of support  must be granted to  countries having 
graduated from LDC status , so as to ensure a smooth  transition and a sustainable graduation from 
this category . 
1.11.   LDCs wish to express their  gratitude to the donors and  development partners and welcome 
their Aid for Trade action s. Similarly , we fully reaffirm our commitment to Aid for Trade , as set forth  
in Goal  8 of the U nited Nations  Sustainable Development Goals , namely : Promote sustained, 
inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all . 
 
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