. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/9 
30 November 2009 
 (09-6056) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   English 
 
  
KENYA 
 
Statement by the Honourable Mr Amos Kimunya
 
Minister for Trade  
   On behalf of the Government and the people of Kenya, let me start by thanking the Director General, Mr Pascal Lamy, and the Chairman of the General Council, Amba ssador Mario Matus, for 
their efforts and the leadership they  provided in organizing this important Conference.  I also take this 
opportunity to thank the Government  of Switzerland for its hospitality and their facilitation role which 
led to the successful convening of this Conference.   The Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference com es at a critical time when the world economy 
is experiencing an acute economic and financial crisis.  This 7
th Ministerial Conference therefore 
gives us an opportunity to exchange views on how  the WTO and the Multilateral Trading System can 
contribute to recovery and growth of the gl obal economy and also assess the progress of the 
DDA negotiations.  The relevance and credibility of WTO is tied closely to conclusion of the DDA, 
especially in view of the current gl obal financial and economic crisis. 
 
 The crisis has adversely affected the impressive  economic growth in Africa and its impact has 
led to reduced trade finance, yet trade remains th e real hope for African countries economic growth.  
Against this background, I wish to underscore the importance we attach to availability of funds for 
trade finance and the urgent need to conclude the Doha Development Round by 2010 in order to 
stimulate economic growth and secure real developmen t gains, particularly for developing countries.  
We urge, therefore, the major players to balan ce national interests with the DDA and take up their 
leadership challenge in advancing the nego tiations towards their successful conclusion. 
  As the (DDA) recognizes the linkages between tr ade and development we expect its outcome 
to facilitate developing countries to integrate into, and benefit from, the multilateral trading system.  
On cotton specifically, we expect a more ambiti ous outcome that will substantially accelerate the 
reduction of production subsidies in developed countries.  Re garding preference erosion, 
commodities, special products and special safe guard mechanism, these ar e issues that underpin 
development, food security and livelihood in our c ountries and should therefore be central to the 
outcome of the Round.  In respect to Aid for Trade, its importance and additionality of resources need 
not be overemphasized and WTO should therefore con tinue to play its proactive role in terms of 
coordination and its coherent implementation at national, regional and global levels. 
  Before I conclude, allow me to say a word in my capacity as the coordinator of the ACP 
countries.  The Group is deeply concerned with the slow pace of the DDA and therefore urge 
members to take stock of the progress, initiate a ro admap and intensify efforts to conclude the Round 
by next year and, accordingly, wishes to re-em phasize that the December 2008 Draft Modalities Texts 
should not be reopened.  We reite rate the Group Declaration of 13
th November 2009, submitted to the WT/MIN(09)/ST/9 
Page 2  
 
  WTO, containing its concerns on various issues including preference erosion and SSM as we 
undertake to remain constructively engaged in the DDA negotiations. 
  In conclusion, we believe that the outcome of  this conference will contribute to improving the 
global economic environment which should be transl ated into a dynamic process of economic growth 
and development, particularly for th e vulnerable developing countries.  
 
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