. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/61 
1 December 2009 
 (09-6142) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   French 
 
  
BENIN 
 
Statement by HE Ms Christine Ouinsavi
 
Minister of Trade  
   My delegation would firstly like to thank th e Swiss Government and people for having agreed 
to host the World Trade Organization's Seventh Mi nisterial Conference and for the warm hospitality 
extended to us since our arrival in this beautiful and welcoming country. 
  I would like to congratulate the WTO Secretariat and, in particular, the Director-General and his colleagues on the organizational and logistical arrangements for this Conference.   The WTO Membership, concerned by the l ack of progress made in the Doha Round 
negotiations, has intensified its ca lls for the conclusion of the Round in 2010.  My country, Benin, 
therefore views the Seventh Ministerial Conferen ce as an important step towards achieving this 
objective and ensuring that it takes account of th e WTO Membership's main concern, which is 
"development" in all its forms.  
 The outcome of the Doha Round will, in eff ect, only be appreciated on the basis of the 
consideration that the Members give to the concer ns of the most vulnerable countries, notably the 
LDCs.  The multilateral trading system must enable  these countries to become better integrated into 
the world economy by making trade a tool for development and poverty reduction.   To this end, it is necessary to take into account the legitimate concerns expressed by these 
countries, which have been clearly reflected in declar ations adopted at a number of recent ministerial 
meetings, declarations wh ich Benin fully endorses. 
  They include, in particular, the C-4 Declarati on on Cotton, the Ministerial Declaration by the 
LDCs, the Cairo Ministerial Communiqué and the Mi nisterial Declaration by the ACP Group, adopted 
on 8 October 2009 in Ouagadougou, 15 October 2009 in Dar es Salaam, 28 October 2009 in Cairo 
and 13 November 2009 in Brussels, respectively.   I would also like to associate myself with the statements made by the coordinators of these 
various groups. 
 
 Let me next take this opportunity to highlight  a number of issues of concern to the developing 
countries:  
1. The prompt and full implementation of the decision on duty-free and quota-free 
market access for all pro ducts originating in LDCs; 
 WT/MIN(09)/ST/61 
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  2. the resolution of the cotton issue in a ccordance with the Hong Kong mandate - a 
mandate which was confirmed in the revised draft modalities text of 6 December 2008; 
 
3. the adoption of appropriate, significant and operational measures with regard to 
special and differential treatment for the de veloping countries, in particular LDCs; 
 
4. the provision of adequate and effective Aid for Trade to the countries that need it 
most through additional, predictable, sustai nable and effective funding, the matching 
of supply and demand, and effective follow- up/evaluation, thus making it possible to 
obtain meaningful results in qua ntitative and qualitative terms. 
  In the current climate of general crisis a nd economic recession, the need to conclude the 
Doha Round in the shortest possible time, while ma intaining the level of ambition agreed upon at the 
outset, is more pressing than ever. 
 
 Members will thereby provide tangible proof th at the Doha Agenda really is a development 
Round and that trade is an effective tool for creating wealth and combating poverty.  It will also be an 
opportunity for everyone to show that they are committed to preven ting the resurgence of 
protectionist tendencies.  
 From this rostrum, the delegation of Benin st rongly calls for the political signals sent out time 
and time again in various international forums, mo re often than not in declaratory form, to be 
transformed into concrete actions so as to make it possible to find fair and balanced technical 
solutions that will lead to the successful conclusion of the Doha Round.  
 WTO reform is an issue that has recently been raised.  Reform in itself is not a bad thing, 
provided that it is initiated and conceptualized  meticulously and implemented in a methodical, 
inclusive, transparent and consensual manner.   Benin is therefore in favour of any reform th at would help to consolidate the WTO's central 
role in the world trading system and improve the way the Organization functions and its effectiveness 
on the basis of the core principles of inclusiveness and transparency. 
  Obviously the top priority, for the moment , continues to be the prompt and successful 
conclusion of the Doha Round.  
 Finally, Mr Chairman, I would like once again to urge all Members to show greater 
commitment to concluding the Doha Round and to assu re you of Benin's readiness to play its part so 
that together we can achieve the objectives that ha ve been set and thus ensure the happiness and well-
being of our populations.  
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