WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/COMTD/AFT/W/32/Add.2 
26 June 2012 
 
 (12-3402) 
Committee on Trade and Development 
Aid for Trade  
 
 
 
PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2012-2013  
AID-FOR-TRADE WORK PROGRAMME 
 
Background Note prepared by the Secretariat1 
 
Addendum 
 
 I. INTRODUCTION 
1. This background note has been prepared to update Members on the progress that has been 
made in implementation of the 2012-2013 Aid-for-T rade (AfT) Work Programme.  The note follows 
the structure of the Work Programme f ound in document WT/COMTD/AFT/W/30.  
2. The background note is not a comprehensive anal ysis of ongoing AfT actions.  It covers only 
the activities of international organizations whic h are in support of the implementation of the 
2012-2013 AfT Work Programme.
2  Members are encouraged to complement this note by reporting 
on their activities at the Committee on Trade and Development's (CTD) 25th Session on Aid for Trade 
to be held on 11 July 2012.   
II. RESOURCE MOBILIZATION AND IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES 
3. The European Bank for Reconstruction and De velopment (EBRD) held its Annual Meeting 
and Business Forum in London, United Kingdom on 18- 19 May 2012.  The annual meeting, attended 
by high-level government officials, leading financ ial and corporate executives, and representatives 
from public and private sectors and civil society, pr ovided an opportunity for the EBRD shareholders 
to share the annual report of the Bank's programme s and to discuss strategic choices made by the 
EBRD, notably the decision to extend its operation ar ea to four countries in the southern and eastern 
Mediterranean region (Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan).  In his opening address, EBRD 
President, Thomas Mirow, referred to the current fi nancial and economic crisis and stressed EBRD's 
important role as a catalyst for investment, refo rms and growth by mobilizing private capital for 
projects in the EBRD's traditional area of opera tions.  An update was also provided on EBRD's 
Sustainable Energy Initiative which marks a major e xpansion of the Bank's action to help address 
climate change.  In this regard, EBRD is expe cted to fund sustainable energy projects worth 
€25 billion over the next three years.  EBRD share holders also elected Sir Suma Chakrabarti as EBRD 
President for a four-year term of office starting on 3 July 2012. 
4. In conjunction with the annual meeting, the Bank organized a Business Forum which, with 
the overall theme of "Managing in Turbulent Times" , served as a platform to discuss business climate 
and investment opportunities in the Bank's current re gions of operations.  Also addressed were the 
                                                      
1 This document has been prepared under the Secret ariat's own responsibility and without prejudice to 
the positions of Members and to their rights and obligations under the WTO. 
2 As such, the note omits many of the AfT activities of international organizations and excludes the 
activities of bilateral donors.   WT/COMTD/AFT/W/32/Add.2 
Page 2 
 
 
  many challenges and opportunities in the Bank' s expanding southern and eastern Mediterranean 
region of operations. EBRD's 22nd annual meeting will take place in Istanbul, Turkey on 10-11 May 
2013.  Further information can be found at http://ebrd-annual-meeting.com/  
5. The African Development Bank (AfDB) held its 47th Annual Meeting in Arusha, Tanzania on 
28 May-1 June 2012 with the theme "Africa and the Emerging Global Landscape:  Challenges and 
Opportunities". In his opening statement, AfDB Pr esident, Donald Kaberuka, said that Africa would 
be a winner in the uncertain emerging landscape if the continent continued to  implement reforms and 
maintain fiscal prudence that had seen countries in  the region posting impressive growth in spite of 
the global financial crisis.3 The meeting was focused around high-level seminars on the following 
topics:  Opportunities and Threats of the Globa l Economic Crisis;  Emerging Issues in African 
Economics;  Greening the Economy;  Voice and Accountability;  and Innovative Financing of 
Infrastructure and Regional Integration post-Ec onomic Crisis which will address the opportunities 
presented by the changing landscape. Further in formation on the AfDB's activities can be found at  
http://www.afdb.org   
6. In the margins of the Annual Meeting, the Af DB, organized a side event on "Aid for Trade 
and Regional Integration:  Removing Barriers to Regi onal Trade Integration".  The event, which took 
place on 30 June, was chaired and moderated by WTO Deputy Director-General, Valentine Rugwabiza.  It provided an opportunity for representatives of African regional economic 
communities, government officials, development partners, and private sector and civil society 
representatives to discuss and explore how Aid for Tr ade can help in removing barriers to regional 
integration.  Presentations were made by the AfDB , the Japan International Co-operation Agency, the 
East African Community Secretariat, the Economic  Commission for West A frican States (ECOWAS), 
and the World Customs Organization.  The fo llowing issues emerged from the discussion: 
(i) interventions to address infr astructure bottlenecks and regulatory barriers to trade need political 
will, careful planning and prioritization of the regional integration agenda; (ii) legally-binding 
instruments are needed to help remove non-tari ff barriers and implement trade facilitation measures 
(in this respect, a WTO agreement on Trade Faci litation would bring progress in areas such as 
harmonization and simplification of customs and tr ansit procedures, documentations and regulations, 
and integrated border management); (ii) Aid for Tr ade is important to support African countries to 
develop the trade-related skills, infrastructure and institutional capacities that are needed to deepen 
regional integration; (iii) the de velopment of effective partnershi ps in support of private sector 
development is necessary since the private sector has a key role to play in terms of moving the 
African regional integration agenda forward.   
7. The agenda of the G-20 Summit held in Los Cabos, Mexico on 18-19 June 2012 focused on 
the five priorities established by Mexico as Pr esidency, namely (i) economic stabilization and 
structural reforms as foundations for growth and em ployment; (ii) strengthening the financial system 
and fostering financial inclusion to promote ec onomic growth; (iii) improving the international 
financial architecture in an interconnected worl d; (iv) enhancing food security and addressing 
commodity price volatility;  and (v) promoting sustainable development, green growth and the fight 
against climate change.  In their final declaration, G-20 Leaders, inter alia , encouraged a deepening of 
discussions in the WTO, UNCTAD and OECD on the re levance of regional and global value chains to 
world trade and called on these organizations to accel erate their work on analysing the functioning of 
global  value chains and their relationship with trad e and investment flows, development and jobs, as 
well as on how to measure trade flows, to be tter understand how actions affect G-20 and other 
countries, and to report on progress under Russia's Presidency.   
                                                      
3 http://www.afdb.org/fileadmin/uploads/afdb/Documents/Generic-
Documents/PRST%202012%20AGM%20Statement%20Eng%20Vers%2031052012.pdf  
  WT/COMTD/AFT/W/32/Add.2 
 Page 3 
 
 
  8. Aid for Trade is referenced in the statemen t made by the G-20 Development Working Group 
(DWG). In particular, Leaders agreed to conti nue to fulfil the Seoul commitment on AfT financing 
and work to ensure the continued effectiveness of  their AfT support.  They requested the WTO and 
OECD to continue monitoring AfT flows and to report periodically to the DWG, and noted that the 
review of G-20 case stories should provide clear messages on issues relating to effectiveness and 
impact, both for traditional donors and South-South c ooperation.  Leaders also recognized that these 
issues would be further developed in the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) exercise for the 4th Global 
Review of Aid for Trade and noted that the particular focus for the M&E exercise would be the issue 
of private sector development and Aid for Trade, not ably as regards the development impacts of value 
chains. The full text of the Declaration can be found at 
http://www.g20mexico.org/images/stories/docs/ g20/conclu/G20_Leaders_Declaration_2012.pdf.  
9. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable De velopment (Rio+20) was held in Rio de 
Janeiro, Brazil on 20-22 June 2012.  With a focus on two themes, (i) a green economy in the context 
of sustainable development poverty eradication;  an d (ii) the institutional framework for sustainable 
development, the Conference brought together world leaders and representatives from governments, 
the private sector and non-governmental organizations  providing a platform to discuss how to reduce 
poverty, advance social equity and ensure envi ronmental protection.  Numerous side events, 
exhibitions, presentations, fairs and announcements by a wide range of partners were held in parallel 
to the Conference.  At the Conference, governme nts adopted measures for implementing sustainable 
development, based on the many successes seen over th e last two decades.  Further information on the 
Conference can be found at http://www.uncsd2012.org/  
10. The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) has organi zed a seminar on "Aid for Trade:  Leading 
Towards Poverty Alleviation" which will take place in Tunis, Tunisia on 25-27  June 2012.  Sessions 
at the seminar include on:  (i) the mobilizing and monitoring of AfT finance, where the IsDB will 
showcase its AfT activities, and in particular how it is seeking to  address the regional and national 
needs and priorities of its member countries, and presentations will be provided by participants in 
respect to mobilizing South-South assistance between  Organization of Islamic Conference members; 
(ii) managing for development results and appro aches to M&E, where discussions will focus on the 
principles of development effectiveness and how they are being applied in AfT support as well as on 
the M&E methodology to be used for the 4th Global Review (4GR); and (iii) regional approaches to 
Aid for Trade where discussions will focus on regi onal AfT initiatives in the Asian region (notably 
CAREC4) and on the AfT initiative for Arab States. 
11. The 4th Meeting of Trade Ministers of Landloc ked Developing Countries (LLDCs) will be 
held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on 12 September 2012.  In the margins of the meeting, a High-Level 
event on International Trade, Trade Facilitation and Aid for Trade will take place on 
13-14 September.  The meetings will review th e achievements made since the Trade Ministers 
Meeting held in Swaziland in 2009 and delibera tions will provide important inputs for the draft 
Outcome Document of the 2014 Review Conference.  Preparation of an outline of a three-track 
strategy of intergovernmental, UN system and privat e sector action is also envisaged.  More details 
about the meetings can be found at http://www.unohrlls.org/en/lldc/247/   
III. MAINSTREAMING  
12. Since the CTD-AfT meeting held in May, Trade Policy Reviews (TPRs) that have taken place 
include for the People's Republic of China, Co lombia, and the joint TPR of Côte d'Ivoire, 
Guinea-Bissau, and Togo. 
                                                      
4 Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation. WT/COMTD/AFT/W/32/Add.2 
Page 4 
 
 
  13. The TPR of the People's Republic of China took place on 12-14 June 2012.  In the documents 
prepared for the Review, reference is made to  China's overall trade policy objective - largely 
unchanged since 2010 - to accelerate its opening to the outside world (with a view to introducing 
foreign technology and know-how);  to develop foreign trade; and to promote sound economic 
development. China's 12th Five-Year Plan (2011-2015) places emphasis on both exports and inward 
foreign investment but also on imports and outwa rd foreign investment. China aims to stabilize 
exports, expand imports, and thus reduce the trad e surplus through the implementation of import 
facilitation measures as well as further preferential tr ading agreements.  At the Review meeting, 
China's Assistant Minister of Commerce, Yu Jia nhua, noted that despite a complicated economic and 
trade environment - including the ongoing financial cr isis - China had been able to promote robust, 
sustainable and balanced growth through deep ened reform, expanded domestic demand, and 
accelerated economic restructuri ng and the transformation of the economic growth model.  The 
development of China's economy and trade had maintained a good momentum and China's 
multilateral, regional, and bilateral economic and tr ade links with other countries had been further 
strengthened.  He said that China had become an indispensable manufacturing link in the global value 
chain and, for many years, had been one of th e most attractive investment destinations.   
14. The TPR of Colombia will be held on 26 and 28 June 2012.  The documents prepared for the 
Review note that Colombia has a substantially open-tr ade regime and that its trade policy continues to 
be directed towards Latin American and Caribbean  integration as well as the strengthening of trade 
and investment flows with the rest of the world. In  order to maintain its open trade regime, and in the 
framework of a transparent, predictable and inclus ive multilateral system, Colombia has participated 
in negotiations to deepen existing bilateral and regional agreements (e.g. LAIA) and has signed new 
agreements (with Canada, EFTA, the United States, a nd the European Union) so as to secure stable 
preferential access to strategic markets. Colombia is also currently negotiating a number of free trade 
agreements (with Korea, Panama and Turkey).  Despite simplifying its customs and administration 
procedures with the establishment of a single window for imports and exports, it is noted that further 
efforts are needed to facilitate  trade, including the improved functioning of the single window.  
Colombia continues with its export support and promotion programmes and its free zone programme, 
for example, has been reviewed to  bring it into line with the provis ions of the Agreement on Subsidies 
and Countervailing Measures and is designed to  promote the production of goods and services 
intended primarily, but not exclusively or necessarily , for foreign markets.  Of key importance to 
Colombia's economy is the agricultural sector due to its contribution to Gross Domestic Product 
(GDP), employment and exports. The current focus of Colombia's agricultural policy is on promoting 
development in rural areas, increasing competitiv eness and market diversification. Services also 
account for a large part of Colombia's GDP (two thirds in 2011) with the main contributors being 
financial and trade services. Colombia is a net importer of services. 
15. The joint TPR of Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea-Biss au, and Togo will take place on 2 and 4 July 
2012.  In the Review document Annex prepared for Cô te d'Ivoire, reference is  made to the country's 
potential for sustainable economic growth due in part  to its abundant natural resources.  This growth, 
however, has been impeded for a number of years be cause of the uncertain social and political climate 
which has weakened the economy's competitiveness.  Despite this slow-down, Côte d'Ivoire's 
infrastructure is described as one of the best and mo st extensive in the West African sub-region (the 
county could rapidly return to - and even exceed - its pre-crisis level) and Côte d'Ivoire's business 
climate, too, still remains relatively diversified. Côte d'Ivoire participates in a number of regional 
economic groupings (e.g. the AU5, WAEMU6, ECOWAS), which has helped limit the impact of the 
socio-political crisis on its economic fundamentals, a nd hopes to be investors' port of entry to the 
ECOWAS in order to achieve its objective of becoming an emerging country by 2020.  The current, 
primary objective of Côte d'Ivoire's trade policy is to boost post-crisis economic growth, especially 
                                                      
5 African Union. 
6 West African Economic and Monetary Union.  WT/COMTD/AFT/W/32/Add.2 
 Page 5 
 
 
  through foreign trade.  The Review document notes that Côte d'Ivoire could further encourage and 
liberalize imports and that greater openness to domestic and foreign competition would make its 
economy more competitive abroad and would help re duce price levels for consumers.  Simplifying 
and harmonizing fiscal regimes to re-establish a more transparent and competitive economic 
environment is described as key in this regard.  Cô te d'Ivoire's customs clearance procedures are, in 
principle, computerized (based on the Automated Customs Clearance System, SYDAM (an adaptation 
of the ASYCUDA), and since July 2009 a new version of  this system (SYDAM World) is being put in 
place which will allow for the automation of most customs operations.  Côte d'Ivoire is also installing a software programme to track customs clearance times. 
16. In the Review document Annex concerning Guinea-Bissau, it is noted that, through its 
National Development Plan (DENARP II), Guinea- Bissau has undertaken to develop its economy, 
eradicate poverty and improve its population's we ll-being including by mobilizing adequate and 
predictable external resources. Guinea-Bissau is  largely dependent on Official Development 
Assistance - which accounts for almost three quarters of the Gove rnment's spending - to finance its 
budget and implement its development policies. In April 2011, Guinea-Bissau adopted an aid policy 
prepared on the basis of consultations at national level as well as with deve lopment partners which 
sets out a resource mobilization strategy with the ai m of finding partners to support its economic and 
social development.  One of the four strategi c axes of DENARP II is to promote inclusive and 
sustainable economic development. Main priority areas - which had been identified in 
Guinea-Bissau's Diagnostic Trade Integration Study (DTIS) - include development of basic economic 
infrastructure, improving the business environment and promoting the private sector, and support for 
sectors with growth potential.  The overall cost of DENARP II (estimated at CFAF227 billion, with 
43.5 per cent to be financed by external resources) , and the need for Guinea-Bissau to mobilize aid, 
including Aid for Trade, in order for it to r each its Millennium Development Goals by 2015 is 
underscored.  Guinea-Bissau has also identified its  trade and trade-related technical assistance needs 
which have been confirmed thro ugh its DTIS.  Among these needs are the following: to increase the 
agricultural sector's productivity and competitiveness and diversification; to improve infrastructure, 
energy, ports, storage warehouses, and road networks ; and to facilitate trade by setting up a single 
window, streamlining customs procedures and introducing the ASYCUDA++ system
7, building 
juxtaposed border posts and training human res ources.  While Guinea-Bissau has signed the Paris 
Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (in August 2010), st ructural weaknesses of government authorities 
need to be overcome in order to enable a more efficient coordination of monitoring mechanisms for 
assistance.  One of the aims of the aid policy documen t adopted in April 2011, therefore, is to allow 
the Government to take the lead in managing and co ordinating aid so that the latter makes an effective 
contribution to achieving the national development objectives and priorities. 
17. In the Review document Annex concerning Togo, reference is made to the important progress 
made by the Government towards formulating an Af T strategy and accessing Aid for Trade.  In late 
2011, implementation started of a project to improv e institutional capacity to mainstream trade, to 
formulate concrete AfT needs, and to coordinate the delivery of Aid for Trade, providing support to 
access Aid for Trade from Togo's development partners.  Given its strategic position as a trade and transit corridor in West Africa, together with its natural resources and tourism needs, Togo has a high 
potential to improve its trade performance.  There is  also potential that AfT flows will lead to the 
desired results of increased productive capacity, trad e fuelled economic growth and wealth creation. 
Togo's overall development strategy for 2009-2011 , which also sets out specific trade and AfT 
priorities, is developed in its Full Poverty Reduc tion Strategy Paper (F-PRSP).  The majority of 
Togo's AfT agenda is covered in the second pillar of the F-PRSP which identifies nine priority areas 
for the promotion of growth: strengthening structur al reforms;  improving the business environment; 
promoting sources of growth;  development infr astructures to support growth; enhancing regional 
integration; effectively managing natural resources and the environment;  redistributing the fruits of 
                                                      
7 Automated System for Customs Data. WT/COMTD/AFT/W/32/Add.2 
Page 6 
 
 
  growth; creating employment;  and promoting resear ch.  With regard to AfT flows, the document 
notes that in 2010, Aid for Trade accounted for 50 per cent of total aid and that this sharp increase was 
due to new commitments in the transport and stor age, and agriculture sectors.  Commitments rose 
from an average of approximately US$5 million per year from 2002-2006 to US$76 million per year 
from 2007-2010. 
18. Forthcoming TPR meetings likely to be held before the next meeting of the CTD Aid for 
Trade Committee include Singapore (24 and 26 July), Korea (19 and 21 September), Bangladesh 
(24 and 26 September), the East African Communi ty - for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and 
Rwanda (24 and 26 October), a nd Norway (9 and 11 October). 
19. The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) S ecretariat and the United Nations Development 
Programme (UNDP) have launched a pilot progra mme to support to EIF countries' efforts to 
mainstream trade in national development policie s.  Mainstreaming trade can be defined as the 
process of integrating trade into national and sectoral development planning, policy-making, 
implementation and review in a c oherent and strategic manner.  Th is implies taking trade-related 
issues into account in planning and executing broader development objectives. It further entails using 
trade proactively to attain specific national develo pment goals, including poverty reduction.  Based on 
an in-depth assessment and review of a number of 14 case studies of countries at different stages of 
development, UNDP has developed an approach based on analyzing mainstreaming trade on three 
levels – policy, institutional and in ternational cooperation levels.  This  analytical approach provides a 
platform for robust policy and institutional reform a nd for the implementation of actions that can be 
monitored over time.  The pilot programme invol ved originally three countries: Burkina Faso, 
Vanuatu and Zambia. Support was provided to Vanuatu in 2011 and is planned for 2012 in the other 
two countries in addition to Cambodia, which was added at the request of the Government.  The 
exercise in Vanuatu led to the adoption of a ma instreaming roadmap and an action matrix with 
recommendations at each level of mainstreaming.   The roadmap includes provisions for regular 
review.  The Tier 1 project, which Vanuatu is curre ntly finalizing, will support the implementation of 
the mainstreaming road map in the country and assist  in its monitoring.  Further information on the 
EIF's activities can be found at www.enhancedif.org.  
IV. MONITORING AND EVALUATION  OF IMPLEMENTATION AND 
DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVENESS 
20. At the CTD's 24th Session on Aid for Trade held on 14 May 2012, the OECD provided an 
overview of the 2010 AfT flows, noting that total donor commitments for Aid for Trade had reached 
US$45.3 billion - an 80 per cent increase in real term s over the 2002-2005 baseline.  As in previous 
years, the information provided was based on data  supplied to the OECD Creditor Reporting System 
(CRS).8  A document has since b een circulated to Members in WT/COMTD/AFT/W/35 which 
provides a detailed presentation and analysis of the 2010 AfT figures.9 
21. A Workshop on "Aid for Trade and Services" will be held at the WTO headquarters in 
Geneva, Switzerland on 11 July 2012 to discuss how Aid for Trade can support services.  The 
Workshop is divided into two sessions and discussi ons will focus on the contribution of services to 
economic development and trade in a general sense and in the context of the tourism sector.  The 
debate will seek to examine the economic development potential of the tourism sector, opportunities 
and challenges which arise, and the experience of AfT support to the sector.  A background note 
prepared by the WTO Secretariat will be circul ated in advance of the Workshop in document 
                                                      
8 For an explanation of how Aid for Trade is  measured, please refer to the OECD website: 
http://www.oecd.org/document/21/0,3343,en_2649_34665_43230357_1_1_1_1,00.html.  
9 To be issued.  WT/COMTD/AFT/W/32/Add.2 
 Page 7 
 
 
  WT/COMTD/AFT/W/34.10 Further information about the Workshop can be found at 
http://www.wto.org.  
__________  
                                                      
10 To be issued.