. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/64 
1 December 2009 
 (09-6135) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   English 
 
  
MALAWI 
 
Statement by the Honourable Eunice Kazembe (MP
) 
Minister for Industry and Trade  
   I would like to join those who have taken the floor before me in tha nking the Government and 
the people of Switzerland for graciously hosting this Ministerial Conference and for the warm 
hospitality accorded to me and my delegation since our arrival.  I would also like to express my 
appreciation to you, Mr Chairman, the Director -General of the WTO, the Chairman of the 
General Council and the WTO Secretariat for your significant roles in organizing this important 
Conference.    I would like to preface my statement by underlining the need for the multilateral trading 
system to be responsive to the needs and economic  conditions of Members, particularly the least 
developed countries, including Malawi.  In the c ontext of the current global economic recession, an 
ambitious outcome of the Doha Development R ound is crucially important to create economic 
prosperity and growth globally.  It is, therefore,  important that any response to the global economic 
crisis should not result in reverting to protectionist policies.  
 
 A major programme which is expected to grea tly facilitate Malawi's integration into the 
multilateral trading system is the Shire-Zambezi Waterway Project, a multimodal inland transport 
linkage, and the establishment of the Nsanje Worl d-Inland Free Port.  These projects will reduce the 
cost of international transportation by 55 per cent and make our exports more competitive.  Malawi is, 
therefore, requesting additional resources from its development partners to  support this important 
project which will also contribute to the achieve ment of the Millennium Development Goals.  
  Let me take this opportunity to inform you th at Malawi's agricultural output has been growing 
since 2004.  This growth had been led by sm allholder farmers who ha ve responded and taken 
advantage of the opportunities created and reform s implemented by govern ment.  However, the 
development of the cotton sector in Malawi has be en constrained by trade-distorting domestic support 
measures and export subsidies applied by develope d countries.  I, therefore, call upon developed 
countries to eliminate these measures.  Furthermor e, the erosion of non-reciprocal preferences 
resulting from multilateral trade liberalization has al so hindered Malawi's export competitiveness.  
 
 I, therefore, hope that the Doha Development Round  will entail the establishment of a fair and 
pro-development rules-based multilateral trading system, which enhances our trade potential and 
creates sufficient policy space to facilitate our c ontinued development.  We recognize the progress 
that has been made so far in the Doha Develo pment Round negotiations. We need to preserve what 
has been agreed, guard against backtracking and ensu re that the key development aspects of the Doha 
Development Round are preserved. 
 WT/MIN(09)/ST/64 
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   At this point, let me join others in acknow ledging the successful operationalization of the 
Enhanced Integrated Framework for least deve loped countries. The guiding principles of the 
programme, including ownership by least developed countries, and the financial commitments being 
made are a recipe for success.  We note with gratitu de that, among others, Malawi’s Tier One Project 
was approved on 23 September 2009.  We are co nfident that initiatives such as the Enhanced 
Integrated Framework and Aid for Trade will help  Malawi address its s upply-side constraints. 
  Malawi also acknowledges the role played  by United Nations agencies including the 
United Nations Conference on Trade and Developmen t, International Trade Centre, United Nations 
Development Programme, United Nations Industr ial Development Organization, World Bank, 
International Monetary Fund and bilateral development partners in assisting Malawi to build 
capacities for trade.  In this regard, I call for continued and increased support to Malawi. 
  In conclusion, Mr Chairman, I would like to reiterate Malawi's commitment to the multilateral 
trading system.  Malawi, like any other least developed country, will strive to contribute to the 
strengthening of the multilateral trading system. 
 
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