. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/1/Add.1 
WT/L/769/Add.1 
WT/COMTD/LDC/16/Add.1 
26 October 2009 
 (09-5309) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   English 
 
  
ROUND TABLE STATEMENT ON THE LEAST-DEVELOPED 
COUNTRIES' ACCESSIONS  
 
Addendum  
  
 The following statement made by Cambodia under "Other Business" at the General Council 
meeting on 20 October 2009 is being circulat ed at the request of that Delegation. 
 
_______________ 
 
 
GENERAL COUNCIL – 20 OCTOBER 2009 
 
ANY OTHER BUSINESS:  ACCESSION OF LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES 
 
CAMBODIA:  STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. CHAM PRASIDH, SENIOR MINISTER, 
MINISTER OF COMMERCE 
 
 
 I make the statement under instruction and on beha lf of my Minister, H.E. Mr. Cham Prasidh, 
Senior Minister, Minister of Commerce of Cambodia.     Chairman of the General Council, Di rector-General and WTO Members.   
 
 WTO accession is core business of this Organiza tion.  It serves to strengthen our Organization 
through expanded membership that approaches unive rsality, improved welfare for acceded countries 
and the strengthening of the rules-based system.  The accession of least developed countries is of vital 
importance for several reasons.  Over 40% of curre nt accessions are LDC accessions.  The integration 
of LDCs into the global economy, through WTO membership, will significantly contribute to poverty 
reduction and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  Their accession will 
serve also to improve the image of the WTO as a ttentive and sensitive to th e development concerns 
and priorities of the most vulnerable.  It will serve to strengthen the development aspects of the 
multilateral trading system.    
 All least developed countries commend Directo r-General Pascal Lamy and his staff for the 
Dialogue with Acceding LDCs and WTO Members in May this year.  This was a commendable 
exercise in transparency.  Our acce ssion process has delivered good resu lts, but there is considerable 
scope for improvement, particularly  with regard to LDC accessions. 
 WT/MIN(09)/1/Add.1 
WT/L/769/Add.1 WT/COMTD/LDC/16/Add.1 
Page 2 
  
   This was why, together with my Tanzania n counterpart, Coordinator for the WTO Least 
Developed Countries Consultative Group, we convened a Round Table in Phnom Penh, on the 
Accession of Least Developed Countries, 28-29 Se ptember 2009.  At the conclusion of the Round 
Table, participants adopted a "Round Table Statement on the Least Developed Countries' 
Accessions".  Upon the joint request of Cambodia and Tanzania, the statement was circulated on 
5 October 2009 as a document of the Ministerial Conference (WT/MIN(09)/1), the General Council (WT/L/769) and the Sub-Committee for Least Deve loped Countries (WT/COMTD/LDC/16).  This 
document was circulated eight weeks before the Minist erial Conference.  In this context, I am hereby 
requesting that a process be established by yo u Chairman, the DG, and the General Council to 
consider and act on the proposals contained in the Phnom Penh Round Table statement.  I appeal to all 
Members to constructively engage on this subject of LDC accessions.     Cambodia is a WTO Member.  We acceded thro ugh negotiations, pursuant to Article XII of 
the Marrakesh Agreement.  I believe  we fully understand what this en tails.  We also believe that all 
Members and our Organization need to act to provi de assistance to enable the accession of 40% of 
candidate countries knocking at the door of this Organi zation.  This is our duty to the Organization.  
Thank you. 
  
__________