. /.   WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(09)/ST/92 
2 December 2009 
 (09-6146) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Seventh Session Geneva, 30 November - 2 December 2009 Original:   French 
 
  
GUINEA 
 
Statement by HE Colonel Mamadou Korka Diallo
 
Minister of Trade, Industry and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises  
   It is a great honour for me to take the floor  at the Seventh Ministerial Conference of the 
World Trade Organization, on behalf of the Governme nt and Head of State of the Republic of Guinea. 
 
 At the outset, I should like to express my warm thanks to the Government of Switzerland for hosting this Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference a nd for the quality of the welcome we have been 
given since our arrival in this beautiful city in the Republic and Canton of Geneva. 
  I also wish to congratulate the Director-Gen eral and staff of the WTO on the excellent 
organization of the Conference and the quality of the arrangements made to ensure its success. 
  I should also like to thank all the donors who have facilitated the par ticipation of the LDCs, 
including the Republic of Guinea, in this important meeting.  
 The international economic and financial crisis, climate change and the imperative need to 
achieve the Millennium Development Goals are suffici ent justification for the organization of this 
Conference.   Under the central theme "the WTO, the multila teral trading system and the current global 
economic environment", the Seventh Ministerial Conf erence of the WTO is being held at a point in 
time when, in many countries of the world, especially developing countries, voices are being raised to 
demand solutions to the problems of sustainable eco nomic and social development in the face of the 
economic and financial crisis.   Indeed, this crisis continues to weigh heavily on  the budgets of poor countries, particularly in 
view of the steady increase in the import prices of staple commodities.  My own country, Guinea, is 
not spared by this phenomenon.   In the same context, development aid and fore ign direct investment are still slow to arrive. 
 
 Thus, Guinea would like the WTO to adapt to the new economic realities and to make 
Aid for Trade a central priority.  This would enable  the LDCs to take advantage of the opening up of 
markets and to offer their products on those markets.   In this connection, I associate myself with  the statements made by earlier speakers, 
particularly the Australian Minister of Trade. 
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   If we wish to enhance the credibility of th e World Trade Organization, which is the body 
responsible for international trade rules, we mu st send strong signals to the world showing our 
emphasis on development issues with a view to co mpleting the Doha Round in the second half of 
2010.  
 The WTO, like other organizations, must hencef orth be more proactive in seeking appropriate 
solutions to the development problems of its Members.   Let me therefore raise a number of salient issues which are major concerns of the Republic of Guinea during this period of global economic crisis. 
 
 These concerns include, in particular, the fall in the price of raw materials, and the inadequacy of the basic infrastructure for goods an d services, in terms of both production and exports. 
  In this connection, I would mention the exam ple of bauxite, exports of which brought in 
250 million dollars annual revenue for Guinea less than  15 years ago.  Today, with the collapse of 
basic commodity prices, these earnings have fallen considerably.   We therefore believe that the conclusion of  the DDA negotiations can help the poor countries 
to reap the benefits of the opening up of mark ets and take their place in the multilateral trading 
system. 
 
 In the circumstances, the Republic of Guinea,  like the other LDCs, places great hope in the 
successful conclusion of the Doha Round negotiations.   Regarding Aid for Trade and the Enhanced Inte grated Framework, we plead for the infusion 
of substantial additional resources to deal with  infrastructure and supply-side constraints. 
  We endorse the statements made by Tanzania on behalf of the LDCs and by Egypt on behalf 
of the African countries.   Let me take this opportunity to thank all the donors involved in the Enhanced Integrated 
Framework, which has facilitated the im plementation of a number of projects. 
  We hope that the dialogue between all the stak eholders on the effectiv e implementation of the 
Enhanced Integrated Framework will be resumed without delay.  
 My best wishes for the success of the Seventh WTO Ministerial Conference. 
  Long live international cooperation.   Long live the WTO.  
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