WT/MIN(17)/ST/80  
 
4 January 2018  
(18-0033) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original:  English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. DR. ISATOU JARRA TOU RAY 
MINISTER OF TRADE, R EGIONAL INTEGRATION AND EMPLOYMENT  
THE GAMBIA 
First, let me congratulate the Government of Argentina for hosting this 11th WTO Ministerial 
Conference as well as thank them for the warm hospitality accorded to me and my delegation 
since our arrival in this beautiful city of Buenos Aires. I would also l ike to congratulate 
Mr. Roberto  Azevedo, Director -General, on his re -electio n, and wish him another successful tenure 
in steering the affairs of the WTO.  
 
The Gambia remains committed to an inclusive, open, and transparent multilateral trading system 
as it remains our hope for a better life for all. Although not perfect, the mult ilateral trading system 
remains an important rules -based system where both developed and developing countries have 
equal rights.  
 
Chairperson, as a new government emerging from 22 years of dictatorship and self -isolation, the 
Government of the Gambia has e mbarked on a comprehensive economic reform to re -integrate 
itself into the global economy by improving its business environment to promote and facilitate 
trade and investment. The Government recently adopted a new National Entrepreneurship Policy 
to suppor t the development of MSMEs which constitute more than 70% of our economic operators 
and contribute more than 60% of employment in the economy. We have also concluded a 
comprehensive Investment Policy Review with the support of UNCTAD. Also, the Gambia is 
committed to advancing gender equality, and youth and women empowerment as well as creating 
a policy environment to unleash their potential.  
 
The Gambia is among the countries that have ratified the trade facilitation agreement and remains 
committed to the multilateral trading system as we believe it is the best option to foster global 
trade and development. Development must remain an integral part of multilateral trade for us to 
deal with poverty, employment, food security and global security.  
 
Chairperson;  16 years ago a Doha Round of trade negotiations w as launched in Doha in 
November  2001 with the aim of achieving a major reform of the in ternational trading system. 
The mandate of negotiations including agriculture, services and intellectual property had r aised our 
hope and confidence in the multilateral trading system because it incorporates a development 
package for developing countries. However, the outcomes of successive negotiations on the DDA 
continue to dash our hopes as it is yet to deliver on the d evelopment we hoped for.  
 
We hope that the outcome of this 11th Ministerial Conference will rekindle our confidence in the 
multilateral trading system. The conference is already clouded with uncertainty as the negotiations 
package is not yet clear, in for mat and content.  
 
I am sure with concerted efforts and commitment we can achieve something. Negotiations on 
Domestic Support, Special Safeguard Mechanism (SSM) Market Access and public stockholding for 
food security purposes are on -going at the WTO. Reduc ing trade distorting domestic support that 
mainly developed countries give to their farmers remains a main obstacle for agricultural 
development in developing countries as such supports results in imbalances in the international 
markets which affects farme rs.  We therefore urge members to achieve progress in the negotiation 
in these areas.  
 WT/MIN(17)/ST/80  
 
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  My delegation supports the reforms on Agriculture more especially on domestic support and 
safeguards.  We also support the current GATS framework that provides member s tates freedom 
to regulate their services sector. The current proposals on domestic regulation pose regulatory 
burden to regulators and also reduces policy space for countries.  
 
We strongly believe that Special and Differential Treatment should remain an integral part of the 
multilateral trading system to support structural transformation, diversification and 
industrialisation in developing countries. We therefore urge Members to take special consideration 
of the needs of developing countries, particularly LDCs, in relation to development. As an LDC, 
development is at the heart of our membership in the WTO, and we will continue to focus our 
efforts in achieving a balanced outcome i n the negotiations.  
 
Aid-for-Trade remains an important area for us given its strategic role in supporting the 
development of trade -related capacities in our economies. The results of the Sixth Global Review 
of Aid for Trade in July 2017 are reassuring, a nd we urge development partners to continue 
according priority attention to LDCs.  
 
We recognize the importance of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) in the advancement of 
our development agenda, especially on trade mainstreaming, and the creation of jobs for the poor 
and vulnerable, including women and youth.  
 
I am honoured to inform you that for the first time in the history of the EIF, a hard infrastructure 
project was implemented – an ultramodern airport cargo complex built in The Gambia. 
The project's objective is to promote trade facilitation and improve service delivery at Banjul 
International Airport.  
 
Finally, we take note of the efforts by some Members to advance discussions on emerging and 
pertinent issues such as MSMEs, investment facilitat ion, and e -commerce. However, The Gambia 
supports the African Group Position that Members should seek to reach a consensus on 
outstanding issues before embarking on new negotiations. Thus, discussions on these new issues 
should remain informal.  
 
Let me co nclude by thanking the Government of Argentina for hosting this 11th Ministerial 
Conference.  
 
We look forward to a successful outcome which will primarily seek to address the outstanding DDA 
issues.  
 
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