WT/MIN(17)/ST/73  
18 December  2017 
(17-7015) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original:  French  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H.E.  MR SERGE MAHOUWEDO AHISSOU  
MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE  
BENIN 
The delegation of Benin sincerely congratulate s the Argentine authorities and people of Argentina 
for the warm welcome extended to the delegations, including the delegation of Benin, and for the 
excellent preparation of the Eleventh WTO Ministerial Conference.  
 
Benin endorses  the statements made by Rwa nda on behalf of the African Group, Cambodia on 
behalf of the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) , Guyana on behalf of the African 
Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group, and by Mali, on behalf of the Co -Sponsors of the Sectoral 
Initiative in Favour of Co tton (C -4). 
 
The Eleventh Ministerial Conference represents  a crucial stage in the life and operation of the 
World Trade Organization . The Conference is being held almost 16 years to the day after the 
launch of the Doha Round . The developing countries, par ticularly the least developed countries, 
and the C -4 countries therefore have high expectations.  
 
These countries  remain convinced that international trade can truly serve as an important tool for 
promoting development, combating poverty and creating jobs,  provided that the rules, principles 
and mechanisms that govern its functioning are improved and effectively support the efforts and 
activities undertaken by this category of countries.  
 
The delegation of Benin echoes the requests of poor and vulnerable po pulations who, at this time, 
are looking toward Buenos Aires from the far -flung lands of Africa, for the cotton and cotton 
products produced and exported by these communities to be  liberated from the serious and 
distorting  effects of domestic support that disrupt the international market for th is strategic 
product . We can and must achieve such an outcome here in Buenos Aires.  
 
Concern ing the development component of the cotton issue, the delegation of Benin thanks all of 
the multilateral and bilateral North -South and South -South cooperation partners , and urges them 
to continue providing  their technical and financial assistance for the effective implementation of 
the Cotton Roadmap programme developed by the C -4 countries, and the sectoral cotton/textile 
value chain projects and programmes  developed by the Government of Benin.  
 
The other outcomes anticipated by the LDCs and Benin include:  
 
- the flexibilities  or special and differential treatment elements in favour of developing 
countries and LDCs, in particular;  
 
- the adoption of disciplines for fisheries subsidies;  
 
- the achievement  of a permanent  solution for the administration of public stockholding 
for food security purposes . 
 
The delegation of Benin remains of the view that WTO Members must give  due attention to the 
role of women and to activities aimed at promoting the empowerment of women.  
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  It also shares the opinion that the needs, concerns and priorities of LDCs should be reflected in all 
of the work and future outcomes on so -called new issue s. 
 
I am pleased to announce here that the Republic of Benin has completed the process to ratify the 
Agreement on Trade Facilitation . 
 
The delegation of Benin would like to take this opportunity to thank its bilateral , regional and 
multilateral technical a nd financial partners that support its efforts to promote trade and economic 
and social development, and to implement the Government's action programme entitled "Benin 
Unveiled"  for the period 2016-2021.  
 
It would like to stress how much it values the tech nical and financial assistance it receives under 
the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) programme, Aid for Trade (AfT) and other initiatives.  
 
It highly appreciate s the contribution of the WTO Chairs Programme in which Benin has been 
participating for three years , and which has contributed to human and institutional capacity 
building in the economic and trade spheres . 
 
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