WORLD TRADE
WT/COMTD/37
23 April 2002
ORGANIZATION
(02-2326)
Pledging Conference
PLEDGING CONFERENCE FOR THE
DOHA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA GLOBAL TRUST FUND
Coherence, Technical assistance and Capacity Building
Report by the Secretariat
I.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.
The Pledging Conference for the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund was held on
11 March 2002, in pursuance of the General Council's decision on the establishment of the DDA GTF
and the convening of a Pledging Conference. The General Council, at that time, set a target amount
for the DDA GTF of CHF15 million for 2002. The Director-General, in his opening statement,
identified the seven pillars of the Secretariat strategic response to the Doha Development Agenda
mandates.
2.
Pledges amounted to a total of CHF30,872,000, including amounts announced for 2003
and 2006 in some cases. For 2002, announced pledges amount to CHF25,236,000, including a pledge
by Nigeria of CHF1,000 and larger pledges from Chinese Taipei, Korea, Estonia and the
Czech Republic (See document WT/BFA/SPEC/73). General information on bilateral assistance and
specific announcements of contributions made to other international organizations were also included
in the statements of some donor WTO Members (see Annex II).
3.
The Conference was a stand-alone WTO event, to which all WTO Members and Observers,
plus a number of multilateral agencies were invited. Its proceedings were divided into four segments
(see programme in Annex I): first, a number of selected speakers were asked to address different
substantive aspects of technical assistance and capacity building, with a view to launching a policy
dialogue on these issues; second, developed and developing WTO Members were invited to make
statements, including their pledges for the Trust Fund; third, representatives of multilateral agencies
were invited to speak on their intended contributions to the implementation of the Doha Development
Agenda; and fourth, other WTO Members and Observers were also invited to make statements (See
list of speakers in Annex III). The purpose of the Conference related to the launching of a policy
dialogue on technical cooperation and capacity building was fully attained. In their statements, many
delegations included substantive comments on many aspects of technical assistance and capacitybuilding (the full statements are reproduced in Annex IV).
4.
It is worthwhile to highlight statements by some advanced developing countries, such as
Brazil, Argentina, India, Mexico and Singapore, on their willingness to contribute to
capacity-building efforts in the WTO. Their contribution would consist, inter-alia, in the provision of
expertise, the organization of events and, in general, in a more active role and contributions in kind to
the technical assistance and capacity-building mandates of the Doha Development Agenda. The
International Institute for Trade and Development in Bangkok, established by the Government of
Thailand in collaboration with UNCTAD, was mentioned as a concrete example. Another example
was the announced intention of Brazil to organize courses for other Portuguese-speaking developing
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Page 2
countries. Members and agencies emphasized the urgent necessity for coherence, coordination,
evaluation, monitoring and predictability of resources. There was also unanimous support for the
WTO Trade-Related Technical Assistance Database.
5.
Representatives from multilateral agencies (ITC, UNCTAD, IMF, World Bank, WIPO,
UNIDO, UNEP and WCO) and regional development banks (IADB, Islamic Development Bank,
Asian Development Bank, and Arab Monetary Fund) made also substantive statements about their
respective agencies' present and intended contributions to the fulfilment of the mandates of the Doha
Development Agenda.
II.
PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT
6.
The Pledging Conference for the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund can be
considered to have been a success for the WTO as a whole. As provided for in the General Council's
decision, the Conference will become an annual event; will not only be confined to a fund raising
exercise, but provide a continuing opportunity for an in-depth policy dialogue on trade-related and
WTO-related technical assistance. It will gradually succeed in expanding the community of donors
and, most important, will also begin to match expectations with reality. The Pledging Conference will
also provide a forum to review and strengthen the strategic alliances established by the WTO with
other international institutions, and contribute to a more effective and efficient inter-agency
coordination.
III.
BACKGROUND
7.
The Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund was created by decision of the WTO
General Council in December 2001, on the basis of the mandate contained in the Doha Ministerial
Declaration related to the provision of a sound financial basis for WTO technical cooperation
activities. The General Council decision included the convening of a Pledging Conference and the
setting of a target amount for the DDA GTF of CHF15 million for 2002.
8.
Throughout an intensive process of consultations with WTO Members in the few weeks
preceding the Conference, the view emerged that the Pledging Conference would have to be not only
a fund-raising exercise, but include a substantive policy dialogue. It was thus that the DirectorGeneral decided to invite eminent personalities to develop their thoughts during the Conference on
specific aspects of trade-related technical assistance and capacity building and, particularly, the
challenges posed by the mandate of the Doha Development Agenda. This is reflected in the
Programme of the Conference.
9.
Due to the close relationship established by the Doha Ministerial Declaration between the
commitments on technical assistance contained therein and the preparations for the next WTO
Ministerial Conference, it was considered appropriate to open the Pledging Conference with the
participation of the Host Minister for the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference. Unfortunately, due to
ministerial engagements, Minister Luis Ernesto Derbez of Mexico was only able to participate
through a written message to the Conference, read by the Delegate of Mexico.
10.
The positive response received and the level of interest generated, as well as the complexity
of the subject-matter determined the full and tight programme that emerged. It was for these reasons
that speakers were kindly requested to limit their interventions to ten minutes. They were also
requested to speak from their sitting position with their delegations. Written statements were
distributed to all delegations. Pledges could also be included in these statements, so that those
speakers ready to do so did not have to make a second request for the floor. Time was also allotted for
WT/COMTD/37
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statements and pledges by bilateral donors developed and developing Members, for five minutes
maximum each.
11.
The afternoon session was dedicated to statements from representatives of multilateral
agencies, which included indications of their contribution, in collaboration and coordination with the
WTO, to the fulfilment of the Doha Development Agenda.
12.
IV.
Background documentation for the Conference included:

The New Strategy for WTO Technical Cooperation for Capacity Building, Growth
and Integration, endorsed by Ministers in paragraph 38 of the Doha Declaration;

The Doha Ministerial Declaration (WT/MIN(01)/DEC/1);

The Coordinated WTO
(WT/COMTD/W/95/Rev.3);

The Joint Communiqué from the IF Heads of Agency meeting, Washington D.C., 26
February 2002 (WT/IFSC/1);

The Memorandum of understanding between the Secretariat of the WTO and the
Inter-American Development Bank.
Secretariat
Technical
Assistance
Plan
2002
SUMMARY OF STATEMENTS BY SPEAKERS
Opening remarks by Director-General Mike Moore

I would like to welcome you all.

Your presence here today is an important indication of the level of commitment of the
international community to the mandates established in the Doha Ministerial Declaration.

This Pledging Conference has been convened in accordance with the decision by the WTO
General Council, in December 2001, to create a Doha Development Agenda Global Trust
Fund.

In that decision, the General Council set a target amount of core funding totalling CHF 15
million.

This Pledging Conference, so soon after the Doha Ministerial Conference, presented the
international community (and not just the WTO) with a unique opportunity to initiate an
urgent and necessary policy dialogue on several issues at the core of technical cooperation
and capacity building.

These issues include the appropriate overall global architecture for TRTA, the scope of the
TRTA, reconciling short-term and long-term needs and, matching expectation with reality.

Central to current discussions underway on this subject is the urgent necessity for
coordination and coherence amongst agencies and between agencies and the bilateral donor
community.
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
Second, this conference is key to the on-going process of confidence-building amongst WTO
Members.

Third, I believe this conference today is part of the overall process of reinforcing and building
on the trade and development consensus that was established at Doha.

Success in our technical cooperation and capacity building efforts will be critical to the
successful conclusion of the Mexico Ministerial.

We have proposed several of these issues to Members to address, in order that we can begin
the process of a high level dialogue.

Amongst the core agencies, I believe that we have begun the process of addressing the
challenges of coherence and coordination.

Doha was a wakeup call not just for the WTO, but for the international community as a whole
that it cannot be business as usual in the treatment of trade and development issues.

We need to be clear about the limits of what the WTO can do and cannot do with regard to
the Doha Development Agenda.

We can cooperate as we do in the Integrated Framework with other agencies, but we must
stick to our core business, which is the Doha Development Agenda, and the benefits it will
deliver to people everywhere.

There are six levels to the architecture that the WTO conceives for addressing the full scope
of the Doha Development Agenda.

First, effective inter-agency groups, focused on issues and activities, for the coordinated
delivery of TRTA.

Second, the Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Assistance to the LDCs is an important
pillar in the overall architecture.

Third, the creation of a Doha/Trade-Related Technical Assistance Database.

Fourth, effective coordinated delivery of TRTA by the WTO and bilateral donors in the
Development Assistance Committee of the OECD.

Fifth, building a strategic partnership with the Regional Banks, Institutions and Commissions.

The final pillar of our overall conception of delivering on the mandates is the WTO
Secretariat-wide Annual TA Plan, which, in coordination with some agencies, responds to the
short term TRTA needs of the beneficiary members.

The major concern I have is quality control, evaluation, and audit procedures for the use of
your resources.

We established a Technical Cooperation Audit Unit.

We should submit ourselves to frequent evaluation through you and be accountable to you.
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
If we are to equip Ministers with the back-up staff and resources many demanded in Doha,
then we need to ensure as much as possible teams stay together.

For those who felt Doha was difficult to manage, it's not too soon now to assemble a team for
Mexico.

It is necessary to underscore over and again that the Secretariat Plan is one out of 6 pillars. It
will not respond to the totality of the needs of beneficiary countries. The scope of TRTA is
wide, and the needs are virtually endless. This is why we must match expectations with
reality and focus on the specific remit of the Doha mandates.

Beneficiary countries to ensure that their trade-related technical assistance requirements,
through systematic domestic coordination, are firmly reflected in their Poverty Reduction
Strategy Papers (PRSPs) or their development plans.
Importance of technical cooperation and capacity building for the Fifth Ministerial Conference
Dr. Luis Ernesto Derbez, Secretary of the Economy, Mexico, Host Minister of the Fifth WTO
Ministerial Conference

It is a rare privilege and an honour also, to be able to participate with you through this
message.

The Government of Mexico is fully committed to host a successful and historic Fifth WTO
Ministerial Conference.

A number of factors and components are necessary for a successful Conference. Involvement
of Ministers at an early stage is vital.

An efficient and effective delivery of technical assistance and capacity building in the
forthcoming months will be vital for the success of the Mexico Ministerial Conference.

The WTO can not reasonably be expected to do it alone. Only a solid partnership with the
developed donor countries and with international institutions, in short, with the whole of the
international community, will guarantee its accomplishment.

We need:


Predictability of funding, and
Coherence amongst Agencies in the delivery of technical assistance.

I have witnessed how critically important is coherence through my work at the World Bank.

Mexico is willing to host any number of technical assistance and capacity building activities.

We want to share whatever expertise we have gained, with other developing countries.
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OECD contribution in support of short and long term trade-related technical assistance and
capacity building
Mr. Donald Johnston, Secretary-General, OECD Secretariat

What does the OECD itself bring to this discussion?

First of all, we have very strong analytical capacity and have supported the GATT and now
the WTO over many many years.

The OECD in recent years has developed very strong programmes with non-Member
economies; we have programmes with some seventy countries and that's expanding all the
time.

We can work with the non-member economies in the areas of competition law; the OECD
and the WTO are working together with other multilateral agency and bilateral donors to
establish a trade-related technical assistance Database.

There must be open markets, there must also, of course, be, in the developing countries
themselves growth oriented macro-economic and structural policies.

Adequate social policy and good governance areas where the OECD has a very important
contribution to make.

One of our great challenges in the OECD is to take that message, not just to politicians but to
their constituents: the importance of open markets.
Appropriate policy framework for utilising trade-related technical assistance
Dr. Louis Kasekende, Deputy Governor, Bank of Uganda

I am greatly honoured to be able to address this important "Pledging Conference for the
Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund".

The commitments made by Ministers at Doha provided a mandate for negotiations on a range
of issues within a reasonable time framework.

The Ministerial Declaration also posed many challenges for the community of trading
partners in the WTO, for developing country Members in particular, to prepare further future
work towards liberalization of their trade regimes.

The participation of developing countries in world trade negotiations and rules setting would
lead to enhancement and predictability of access to markets for exports.

The relative success of Uganda's external trade relations since 1987 has been exemplary.

Hard decisions and bold initiatives undertaken, in part, to reform, liberalize, and to open
Uganda's trading regime.

The process of integrating developing countries into the world trading system requires
substantial resources, both financial and technical.
WT/COMTD/37
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
Equally important is to design ways and means of directing technical assistance where it is
needed most.

Deliberate open economy policies and measures that embody trade as a credible component
of the overall economic policy objective.

Recipient countries should adopt an appropriate mix of policies.

Uganda has over the years been specifically active in trade and WTO issues on several fronts.

Requisite measures have also been put in place to mainstream trade into the ten year National
Development Plan.

The program for technical assistance to developing countries and LDCs should be
implemented in a measured but focussed manner.

Consideration should also be given to extending technical assistance through regional
organizations.

Other resources due to technical assistance already available to developing countries like the
WTO Reference Centres should be strengthened and made more usable to the wider public.
Developing countries' short and long term priority needs for trade-related technical assistance
and capacity building
H.E. Ms. Amima Chawahir Mohamed, ambassador, Permanent Representative of Kenya to the
WTO

I am pleased to participate in this Pledging Conference on the Doha Development Agenda
Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF) and feel encouraged by the turnout of participants.

Doha marked a turning point in international economic relations.

The developments that have taken place since the Doha Ministerial Conference confirm the
importance and the seriousness of the commitment WTO members have.

We have to reconcile expectations with reality. A shell has now been established and we
have to fill this shell, so that the commitments in the Doha Ministerial Declaration are
fulfilled.

I view this Pledging Conference and its timing as an important move.

Short presentation on “Developing Countries Short and Long Term Priorities for TradeRelated Technical Assistance and Capacity Building in the Multilateral Trading System.”

The benefits of globalization have not been distributed proportionally.

Majority of developing and least developed countries continue to be marginalized in world
trade.
WT/COMTD/37
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
We note with satisfaction developments after Doha particularly the establishment of the Trade
Negotiations Committee (TNC) and its negotiating structures.

We welcome especially, the efforts that the Director General has made to explore ways and
means of securing predictable and enhanced funding.

In our view the new phase in technical assistance and capacity building should now focus on
upgrading technical skills and capacity to negotiate.

Developing and least developed countries will need technical assistance to conduct thorough
analytical studies.

The Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme (JITAP) has been a success story.

Recommend that future technical assistance could be channelled through the JITAP type
programme.

Discussions that will be taking place in the Working Groups on Trade, Debt and Finance and
Trade and Transfer of Technology as well as the Committee on Trade and Development will
be taken into account in designing future technical assistance.

Negotiations should not be seen as an end in themselves. What is more important is for
countries to take advantage of the improved market access opportunities created.

Technical assistance and capacity building to address supply side constraints is equally
important.

We welcome the initiatives by a number of our developed country partners in supporting to a
certain extent private sectors in developing and least developed countries to address supply
side constraints.

It is our hope that the spirit exhibited at Doha will become a reality; in Kenya this spirit is
called Harambee, pooling resources together for a common cause.
Coherence and coordination for technical assistance and capacity building: post-Doha
H.E. Mr. Carlo Trojan, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the European Commission
to the WTO

I have been asked to speak to you on the issue of co-ordination and coherence in the
Technical Assistance field.

I would like to take up two threads: first of all the coherence and co-ordination between those
who deliver Technical Assistance and Capacity-Building Measures.

The case for co-ordination and coherence in the developing countries is just as strong, and
needs to be made.

Let's look at the donor side first.
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
We have seen immediately that to fulfil these commitments, a co-ordinated effort is
necessary.

We mainstream trade in our development programmes on a country by country and region by
region basis and include it in all countries strategy papers.

Trade Related Technical Assistance and Capacity-Building is not a new phenomenon for the
European Community.

The Community has made available 30 million Euro for WTO related Technical Assistance to
the ACP countries.

At WTO, donors and recipients can build on the experience gained under the Integrated
Framework.

No expansion of the IF was needed, but a similar approach using its model and methodology
for Technical Assistance in non-LDC’s and low income countries.

One key principle of the IF is that the donors co-ordinate fully in delivering assistance.

Just as important, the IF is built on the understanding that the developing country itself has a
concept which allows its trade policy to be fully integrated in its overall development strategy.

In the developing countries, trade ministries, finance ministries, agriculture ministries, the
private sector; in short all actors involved in trade, get together and make sure that a coherent
strategy is devised.

It is after this stage then that the co-ordination on the donor sides becomes most important.
This means that overlap is avoided, priorities are transported into donor programmes and a
clear overview of who is doing what is established.

We are fully supporting the establishment of a database, the WTO can play the role of
clearing house to avoid duplications, gaps, geographical imbalances in the provision of
Technical Assistance.

It is clear that the WTO Secretariat needs to establish closer relations with other multilateral
agencies, which deliver Technical Assistance in particular areas.

We are pleased to see that the WTO Secretariat has now presented the annual TA Plan which
puts a lot of stress on partnerships with other organisations, coherence and in-house cooperation.

I would like to address one other point on coherence, this time on the larger scale of
international action for development.

The Monterrey Conference, but also the World Summit on Sustainable Development to be
held in Johannesburg in August can serve as a tool to integrate trade in Sustainable
Development.

Here is the European Commission’s Pledge: We will contribute 700,000 Euros for 2002,
which equals 1 million Swiss Francs.
WT/COMTD/37
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Predictable funding and priority-setting in technical cooperation and capacity building
H.E. Mr. Käre Bryn, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Norway to the WTO

One of the most important outcomes of the Doha Ministerial was the recognition that the
developing countries, and especially the least developed countries, need to draw larger
benefits from increased opportunities and welfare gains that the multilateral trading system
generates.

Predictable funding over the coming years is essential.

The case for secure, long-term financing over the regular budget is obvious. Stability in
provision of funds is a prerequisite for building up a delivery capacity in the Secretariat.

The decision to create the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund was a milestone.

The Doha Declaration has a strict timeframe which requires close attention to the provision of
resources as well as the organization of the delivery of assistance. This includes personnel to
provide the assistance.

Priority setting in trade-related technical assistance.

First of all, technical assistance must be demand-driven.

Secondly, the Least Developed Countries must be given priority.

Thirdly, coordination with other providers of technical assistance is important.

Fourthly, given the Doha Declaration, priority obviously has to be given to the issues covered
there. The WTO technical assistance should be as targeted and concrete as possible.

My Delegation will actively review the implementation of the Technical Assistance Plan as
well as the priority setting and the funding of technical assistance based on the elements I
have mentioned
Short and long term trade-related technical assistance needs in the multilateral trading system
H.E. Mr. Takahashi, Special Assistant to the Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

On behalf of the Government of Japan, I wish to express our deep appreciation for the efforts
made to organise this pledging conference o the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust
Fund.

WTO-related technical assistance and capacity building are integral parts of the Doha
Development Agenda.

The WTO needs to assist developing Members in implementing the WTO Agreements and in
preparing to engage in the new issues.

Demand for technical assistance and capacity building is strong among developing Members.
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
I would like to propose a couple of guiding principles.

First, working-out of projects should be demand-driven.

Second, the WTO should seek further cooperation from international aid and development
organisations as well as bilateral donor countries to effectively implement technical assistance
and capacity building programmes.

The WTO is not an aid agency and its capacity is limited.

Japan is aware that developing Members need technical assistance and capacity building on a
wide range of issues, including supply-side assistance to strengthen, in particular, their export
capacity and competitiveness.

The international community should do more.

The legitimacy of the multilateral trading system depends on whether all its Members, both
developing and developed alike, can reap the benefits of the system.
Architecture for long-term trade-related technical assistance and capacity building: coherence
between multilateral institutions and bilateral donors
H.E. Ms. Linnet F. Deily, Ambassador, U.S. Deputy Trade Representative, Permanent
Representative to the WTO

I am pleased to be here today and to have the opportunity to share some views on the
importance of coherence between multilateral and bilateral donors.

Trade is an indispensable means of financing sustainable development.

In negotiating the Doha Development Agenda we all recognized the critical role that technical
cooperation will play.

Bilateral assistance programs, can draw on expertise from a broad range of sources.

Other international organizations hold broad expertise in areas where the WTO does not.

The United States has been actively encouraging multilateral institutions, to meet the most
urgent trade capacity needs for the Doha negotiations.

The United States is also actively working with developing countries and multilateral
institutions, organizations.

Partnership among both donors and recipients.
U.S. Commitment to Participate

The United States Government provided more than $1.3 billion in funding on trade-related
capacity building in developing countries and transition economies in the last three years.

Need to assess trade assistance and trade-capacity building efforts underway.
WT/COMTD/37
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
The United States has pledged US$1 million to the Doha Development Agenda, in addition to
a commitment we had already made to contribute US$370,000.

At current exchange rates, that amounts to contributions and pledges to the new trust fund in
excess of CHF2.1 million.

We are also transferring over CHF900,000 from pre-Doha contributions to various WTO trust
funds into the Doha Development Agenda Trust Fund.

High priority to undertaking specific trade-related capacity building programs related to the
mandates from the Doha Ministerial.

The United States strongly supports the initiative of the WTO, in coordination with other
multilateral agencies and bilateral donors, to establish a trade-related capacity building
database.

Participation and partnership.

Enhancing the capacity of think tanks and universities in LDCs.

Using electronic media and information technology.

Funding non-resident Member attendance to WTO seminars and meetings.
Maximizing Trade Capacity Resources for Long-Term Gains

Significant role of the private sector.

Development of stable and supportive business environments.

Trade capacity building can augment but not replace the role of each Member in ensuring that
they create the domestic environment.

Trade liberalization by developing countries is also a critical part of the equation.

Need to separate the short term negotiating needs from the longer term, development-related
needs.

We must match outcomes with recipient country expectations and define needs at the outset.
WTO: Coordination with Other Bilateral and Other Multilateral Organizations' Technical Assistance
Managing Expectations in meeting the Trade-related Technical Assistance/Capacity Building
challenge
H.E. Mr. Sergio Marchi, ambassador, Permanent Representative of Canada

Ministers committed to TRTA/CB to ensure that all WTO members can participate
effectively in the negotiations and benefit fully from the Multilateral Trading System.

Ensure that we live up to the commitments and aspirations of Doha.
WT/COMTD/37
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
Members and the Secretariat work together very closely in formulating, delivering,
monitoring and constantly improving “the Plan”.

It is also vital to the overall success of the Plan that there be broad support for it by Members.
We all need to take ownership of the Plan.

TRTA/CB involves the combined and coordinated efforts of multilateral and regional Banks
and Agencies, bilateral donors, the private sector and academic institutions, within a
development framework provided by each recipient country.
WTO Responsibilities:

WTO sticks to what it does best and focuses its attention upon meeting the mandates
specifically set out by the Doha Ministerial Declaration.

Each Committee and Working Group of this House establishes the feasible scope of
TRTA/CB.

Engaging the other multilateral, regional and bilateral Agencies.

Reporting to all Members on general progress by the end of 2002, and subsequently to
Ministers at the 5th Ministerial.
Member Responsibilities:

Both donor and recipient countries have distinct responsibilities.

Not only must we also provide funds to various institutions other than the WTO, but we must
ensure that we draw upon all of our domestic resources both private and public in a coherent
effort.

Coordinate amongst donors and with multilateral and regional Agencies.

Report our activities in an agreed framework and in a timely fashion.

Recipient countries: it is important to keep their requests to the WTO within the
Organization’s mandate and capacity.

Assess their needs.

TRTA/CB requirements are sequenced and then integrated into country development plans.

Take advantage of other funding mechanisms.
Canadian Pledge:

Canada intends to be a full player in all of these efforts.

Pledge CAN$1.0 million to the Global Trust Fund.

Over and above this $1 million pledge, we are today announcing an additional contribution of
CAN $300,000 to the WTO Training Institute.
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
Canada will be delivering this year a minimum of CAN$30 million in TRTA/CB through
bilateral programs and multilateral agencies.

$500,000 to AITIC via La Francophonie.

$950,000 to the ITC.

Supply direct technical assistance in the form of human resources from Canadian institutions
and government departments.

Canada, as current Chair of the G8 will, among other tasks, be promoting TRTA/CB within
the Africa Action Plan.
Concluding Remarks:

Getting TA/CB right is essential to helping developing countries.

We will transform the technical assistance challenge.
WT/COMTD/37
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ANNEX I
PROGRAMME
WTO Pledging Conference For The Doha Development Agenda
Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF):
Coherence, Technical Assistance and Capacity Building
Monday, 11 March 2002
Chairman:
Mike Moore, Director-General, WTO
Opening statement by the Chairman
"Importance of technical cooperation and capacity building for the Fifth Ministerial Conference"
Message from Dr. Luís Ernesto Derbez, Secretary of the Economy, Mexico, Host Minister of
the Fifth WTO Ministerial Conference.
"OECD's contributions in support of short and long term trade-related technical assistance and
capacity building"
Mr. Donald Johnston, Secretary-General, OECD
"Appropriate policy framework for utilising trade-related technical assistance"
Dr. Louis Kasekende, Deputy Governor, Bank of Uganda
"Developing countries' short and long term priority needs for trade-related technical assistance and
capacity building"
H.E. Ms Amima Chawahir Mohamed, Ambasssador, Permanent Representative of Kenya to
the WTO
"Coherence and coordination for technical assistance and capacity building: post-Doha"
H.E. Mr. Carlo Trojan, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of the European Commission
to the WTO
"Predictable funding and priority-setting in technical cooperation and capacity building"
H.E. Mr. Käre Bryn, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Norway to the WTO
"Short and long term trade-related technical assistance needs in the multilateral trading system"
H.E. Takahashi, Special Assistant to the Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan
"Architecture for long-term trade-related technical assistance and capacity building: coherence
between multilateral institutions and bilateral donors"
H.E. Ms Linnet F. Deily, Ambassador, U.S. Deputy Trade Representative, Permanent
Representative to the WTO
"Managing Expectations in meeting the Trade-related Technical Assistance/Capacity Building
challenge"
H.E. Mr. Sergio Marchi, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Canada.
"Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund": power point presentation
Deputy Director-General Andrew Stoler, WTO
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"WTO strategic response to the Doha Development Agenda & Technical Cooperation and Capacity
Building Mandates": powerpoint presentation
Mr. Chiedu Osakwe, Director, Technical Cooperation Division (on behalf of Deputy
Director-General Paul-Henri Ravier, WTO)
Statements and pledges by bilateral donors: developed and developing Members1 (five minutes
maximum each)
Implementation of the Doha Development Agenda:
Multilateral Agencies Contributions/Pledges
"Role of regional development banks in implementing the Doha Development Agenda: the model of
the IADB"
Mr. Ziga Vodusek, Senior Economist, European Office, Paris
Inter-American Development Bank
Mr. J. Denis Bélisle, Executive Director/Assistant Secretary-General, ITC
Mr. C. Fortin, Deputy Secretary-General, UNCTAD
Mr. Alfredo Sfeir-Younis, Director, World Bank Office in Geneva
Mr. Alexei Kireyev, Senior Economist, IMF Office in Geneva
Ms Karen Lee, Counsellor, WIPO
Mr. Alberto DiLiscia, Assistant Director-General,
Director of UNIDO Office at Geneva, UNIDO
Mr. Charles Arden-Clarke, Senior Programme Officer, Economics and Trade Unit, UNEP
Dr. Jamel Eddine Zarrouk, Division Chief, International and Regional Organisation,
Economics and Technical Department, Arab Monetary Fund
Mr. J.P. Verbiest, Asian Development Bank
Mr. Mikuriya
Deputy Secretary-General, World Customs Organizsation
Dr. Ahmed Abdul Wasie
Operation Officer, Cooperation Office, Islamic Development Bank
Statements by other WTO Members
1
DAC and non-DAC Members. Pledges may also be included in the initial general statements.
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ANNEX II
TABLE OF PLEDGES FOR OTHERS
Announcements made by Delegations to the Pledging Conference for the
Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund, of Contributions made to other International
Organizations and of Bilateral Assistance
Delegation
European Commission
Japan
Contribution
Between 1996 and 2000 the EC funded
TRTA/CB projects to an amount of
700 million Euro. Currently, projects
worth over 300 million Euro are being
implemented.
Specifically:
Euro 30 million
Euro 200,000 in 2001
Euro 750,000 in 2002
No specifics
In 2001-2002 approximately
US$ 107.8 million
Organization
ACP countries/ACP Antenna in
Geneva.
IF Trust Fund
IF Trust Fund
The APEC Strategic Plan
In general for multilateral, regional and
bilateral
trade-related
technical
assistance.
United States
In the last three years more than
US$1.3 billion
Canada
CAN$30 million
Trade-related
capacity-building
activities in developing countries and
transition economies.
TRTA/CB bilateral and multilateral
CAN$ 500,000
AITIC through La Francophonie
CAN$ 950,000
£ 7.5 million
ITC
UK's Africa
Programme
£ 1 million
IF Trust Fund
£ 1 million
AITIC's transformation into an Intergovernmental organization
£ 3 million
World Bank – Trade Policy and
Development Programme, second
phase.
No specifics
UNCTAD and ITC
Australia
A$ 500,000
AITIC
Germany
CHF 750,000
UNCTAD
CHF 3.5 million
ITC
Netherlands
No specificities
France
No specificities
UNCTAD, ITC, Advisory Centre on
WTO Law, and AITIC
UNCTAD, ITC
United Kingdom
Trade
and
Poverty
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ANNEX III
STATEMENTS BY OTHER WTO MEMBERS

Switzerland

Benin

Brazil

United Kingdom

France

New Zealand

Nigeria

Australia

Argentina

Belgium

Hong Kong, China

Germany

Chinese Taipei

Estonia

Iceland

Singapore

Norway

Ireland

Netherlands

Czech Republic

Finland

Austria

Luxembourg
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ANNEX IV
FULL LENGTH INTERVENTIONS
Implementation of the Doha Development Agenda:
Multilateral Agencies Contributions/Pledges
Role of regional development banks in implementing the Doha Development Agenda: the model
of the IADB
Mr. Ziga Vodusek, Senior Economist, European Office, Paris Inter-American Development
Bank
1.
Since the mid-1980s the IDB has actively supported the process of structural reforms in Latin
America and the Caribbean. One of the main pillars of these reforms has been greater openness to the
world economy, and in this regard trade liberalization has had an important strategic instrumental
role.
2.
Trade liberalization in Latin America and the Caribbean has involved a three-tier process. The
first tier has been unilateral liberalization that has witnessed average tariffs falling from over 40% in
the mid-80s to 12% in the mid-90s. Meanwhile, all but one country of the region actively participated
in the Uruguay Round and assumed its liberalizing disciplines. Finally, the third tier has been regional
integration which has taken the liberalization process further, albeit among a limited number of likeminded partner countries.
3.
In the context of the New Regionalism that emerged in the 1990s, the Bank and many others
view these three tiers as mutually reinforcing and laden with potential synergies to make our region
more open, more competitive and better prepared to harness the forces of globalization for growth and
poverty reduction.
4.
At the center of this three tier process is the WTO which drives forward world wide
liberalization and provides for a global rules-based trading system. Hence it is not surprising that we
are extremely pleased by the emergence of the Doha Development Agenda. It not only reconfirms the
health of the multilateral trading system, but also its broad scope opens prospects for further important
advances in world trade liberalization. Moreover, its unprecedented focus on the needs of developing
countries promises to ensure that the multilateral system will become an even more important catalyst
for growth, economic transformation and modernization.
5.
In the context of the Doha Development Agenda the Bank gives exceptional importance to the
Secretariat's efforts to make the stated objective of Capacity Building an operational reality. We all
know that good and sustainable trade agreements require good negotiations and good implementation
as well as socially efficient mechanisms to facilitate adjustments. Developing countries in our, as well
as in other regions, have serious shortcomings in this regard. If negotiations launched in Doha are not
followed up with Capacity Building in these areas, the spread of the fruits of free trade will be more
limited and the benefits of trade and globalization increasingly questioned by developing countries
and their citizens.
6.
It is also important to point out that there is considerable overlap in national, multilateral and
regional trade agendas and therefore capacity building for the Doha Development Agenda will have
considerable positive externalities for the other two tiers of trade liberalization, and visa versa. This is
why the Bank is pursuing capacity building at all three levels.
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7.
Given the central role of the multilateral system in regulating and energising trade
liberalization, the IDB has given high priority to collaborating with the WTO Secretariat in Capacity
Building. We think that Regional Banks such as the IDB can be especially effective partners with the
WTO Secretariat in the capacity building effort. First, the Regional Banks like the IDB are part of a
long defined "neighbourhood" and have an intimate "first name'"-like relationship with local players.
Second, the IDB is very active in supporting trade authorities in their three tier agenda and hence has
a special on-going working relationship with them. Third, the Bank has a wide array of financial and
non-financial services at the disposal of the countries for Capacity Building. Finally, the IDB has a
working relationship with the subregional development banks and can act as an effective liaison for
their support of WTO Capacity Building as well.
IDB cooperation with the WTO
8.
Since 1999, the IDB has been strengthening its collaboration with the WTO Secretariat in the
area of trade-related technical assistance. That year the first MOU between the two institutions was
signed, and since then joint actions have been undertaken on several fronts.
9.
The first and foremost area of cooperation has been the preparation of joint training courses
for government negotiators in Latin America and the Caribbean. The courses are organized by the
Bank’s Institute for Latin American and Caribbean Integration (INTAL), together with the WTO’s
Technical Cooperation and Training Division. In 1999, the first year of cooperation, altogether seven
courses were carried out, and subsequently this number has grown, to reach 11 courses during last
year. The courses are normally carried out at the subregional level for a group of countries – for
example for the CARICOM countries, Central America, the Andean countries, MERCOSUR etc. The
courses cover topics such as the development of negotiating skills and trade policy courses, as well as
specific areas such as services, anti-dumping or dispute settlement etc.
10.
Another activity that is being jointly developed is support of the WTO Trade Policy Review
Mechanism. In 2001, we supported a WTO TPRM in the OECS countries in the English-speaking
Caribbean. This year, a seminar is being organized in April in Guatemala, and will have both a
regional and national focus. A session will examine the goals and requirements of the TPRM and will
bring together five Central American countries and the Dominican Republic. At the national level – in
this case Guatemala – the dissemination of its just completed TPRM will be discussed, as well as the
training and other needs that have originated from this exercise.
11.
In Montego Bay, Jamaica, the IDB supported a WTO Secretariat Workshop with CARICOM
Trade Ministers to discuss their views on the preparations for the Doha Ministerial. There also was a
session on regionalism and the multilateral system with IDB participation.
12.
Mention should also be made of the conference that was held just ten days ago at the Bank’s
headquarters in Washington D.C., at which officials of trade and finance ministries from Latin
America and the Caribbean discussed Capacity Building in view of the FTAA process and the Doha
Development Agenda. The need for mainstreaming trade issues in the member countries’ national
development plans – and the Bank’s programs – was an issue that was particularly highlighted.
13.
On the occasion of the Washington conference, a meeting with representatives of other
Regional Development Banks was also held, where it was noted that cooperation between the WTO
Secretariat and the IDB could serve as a model for relations with the WTO Secretariat.
14.
The two institutions signed a new MOU in Washington on February 27, a copy of which we
understand has also been distributed to participants of today’s meeting. The new MOU is already
being launched with an agreement to support – through INTAL – 15 regional and subregional WTO
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training courses during 2002 involving financing of more than $400,000. Furthermore, we also plan to
collaborate with subregional banks, and discussions are underway for the implementation of other
aspects of the joint program.
Mr. Alfredo Sfeir-Younis, Director, World Bank Office in Geneva
1.
The World Bank is responding systematically to the post-Doha challenges in many different
ways. It is clear that our role on trade has assumed an increased urgency. Trade-related activities have
advanced along the three dimensions of the trade-for-development agenda: global, focusing on the
promotion of development through international cooperation on trade-related issues, in particular with
the WTO; regional, focusing on the twin themes of promoting efficient regional integration schemes
consistent with multilateral principles and overcoming trade-related obstacles to growth common to
particular regions; and national focusing on policies and institutions needed to make trade an
instrument of pro-poor growth.
OUR RESPONSE TO THE POST DOHA CHALLENGE
The World Bank is responding to the post-Doha challenge by developing a three-year plan of
action that entails:

Contributing to the global agenda through economic analysis and research associated with
the Doha Development Agenda, including market access and the new trade issues (e.g.,
services, competition and investment policy, government procurement, trade facilitation,
product standards and the environment). The intention is to publish these research findings in
a special issue of the Global Economic Prospects report shortly before the next WTO
Ministerial next year in Mexico.

Carrying out diagnostic trade integration studies under the Integrated Framework Initiative to
assist the LDCs in their efforts to integrate into the world economy, as well as working with
other development partners to implement their findings.

Extending the IF approach to up to fifteen of the low-income developing countries that are
not LDCs, using our own funds and programs.

Support to middle-income countries in specialized areas related to the negotiations – for
example, liberalization of services, managing accession to the WTO (e.g., China and Russia),
helping to make regional agreements trade-expanding and consistent with multilateral accords
and providing advice on integrating trade reform into national development and poverty
reduction strategies.

Using the World Bank Institute and our trade work to build capacity in specific areas that are
critical to moving forward on the Doha agenda. The WBI is expanding and reorienting its
program to focus more on understanding the new trade agenda of the WTO and is exploring
ways to address trade and poverty in support of the PRSP process by drawing on the
diagnostic studies generated under the Integrated Framework. WBI is planning 10 courses in
FY02, relying heavily on partnerships with local institutions.

Research and workshops are being conducted in rural development and agricultural trade
liberalization to enhance the participation of developing countries in the next round of
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negotiations and enable them to maximize the benefits from trade. We are exploring how
best to design operational projects that will help address developing countries meet the
product and phyto-sanitary standards they face. Capacity building initiatives on trade policy
and strategy, and trade-related standards in the field of agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food
safety are also part of the strategy and operational contributions.
ACTIONS AT THE REGIONAL LEVELS
At the regional level, many interventions must be noted.

In Africa, attention is being paid to the regional prospects for traditional exports, to a
methodology for measuring trade reform and to work on customs administration. The
implementation of the West Africa Regional Integration Assistance Strategy has begun.
Preparation of Regional Integration Assistance Strategies for Central Africa and Southern
Africa was initiated in September of last year. Technical assistance was provided to
ECOWAS and COMESA on establishing a common external tariff and removing internal
trade barriers. Multi-country research on regional trade facilitation and standards was
launched also last year, and another project on trade in agricultural products is underway,
covering five African countries and two sub-regional trade area.

In Europe and Central Asia, the Bank (in collaboration with the European Commission) has
provided support to Central European countries in preparing for accession to the European
Union, and has also undertaken significant analytical trade work for the Southeast European
countries that are not accession countries. Recently we launched a Trade and Transport
Facilitation Project in six countries in Southeast Europe to promote and facilitate regional
trade, in close cooperation with the trading and transport community.

In East Asia, we are assisting in developing tools to analyze the linkages between trade and
poverty. The region has initiated work on supply chain and logistics management to better
integrate remote poor regions into the global economy. Analysis of the regional impact of
China’s entry into the WTO and further regional trading arrangements is continuing.

In the Middle East and North Africa, we are initiating a study on trade intensification,
looking at barriers to competitiveness and improved export performance, including a detailed
analysis of “behind the border” barriers to trade within the region.

In the Latin American and the Caribbean Region, work is under way on regional trade and
integration issues and their impact on the region’s poor is under preparation, including work
on NAFTA and a planned flagship report (in 2003) on the future of trade agreements in the
region.

In South Asia, attention is paid to regional trade work which examined the evolution of trade
policies and of intra-regional trade patterns in recent years, and also to reviewing the impact
to date of regional preferential trading agreements and initiatives in the region.
LENDING AND INSTRUMENTS
The Bank is enhancing its lending program and instruments including the PRSPs.

Trade-related Lending. In FY01, the World Bank group approved 251 loans and credits for a
total amount of $17.3 billions, including 45 adjustment loans and 206 investment loans. A
total of 47 investment projects (compared to 46 in FY00) had a trade component. Investment
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lending for those projects amounted to $1.6 billion, of which an estimated $600 million could
be attributed to trade. While the number of projects with a trade component and the total
amount lent for those projects remained similar to that of FY2000, the share of lending
associated with trade was somewhat lower (6% instead of 10% in the previous year).

The Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). In order to assist countries in the
development and strengthening of poverty reduction strategies the Bank, jointly with the
International Monetary Fund, is working intensely on a Sourcebook which dedicate a whole
chapter to trade. The chapter begins by describing experience with successful trade policy
reform and discuss adjustment costs and the implications for the poor; it discusses and
evaluates the principal trade policy instruments and institutions; it identifies the most
important complementary policies are discussed and evaluated; it accords special treatment to
the importance of agriculture and business services for a poverty reduction strategy that
employs trade; it focuses on general and trade policy specific safety nets; and it briefly
summarizes the principal points in a successful strategy for using trade for poverty reduction.
OTHER ACTIONS TAKEN
The Bank is supporting this program internally by:

Allocating more budget resources and staff.

Introducing internal mechanisms to coordinate a more ambitious trade program, including
enhanced research, policy and dissemination collaboration, and better integrating trade into
other programs such as transport, rural development and finance. We have created a trade
coordinators’ working group reporting to the Economic Policy Sector Board, with members
from each region, research, PREM (Economic Policy), and WBI. The group coordinates the
work program and serves as focal point for the quality and consistency of trade work being
undertaken both in the center and the regions.

Enhancing a number of thematic groups. At present, three thematic groups within the Bank
work on overlapping issues in (i) customs reforms; (ii) trade and competitiveness; and (iii)
infrastructure. We are in the process of integrating these thematic groups, and the specialists,
and developing a common framework with the IMF. This will ensure a common approach,
consistent work programs that avoid duplication, and imply greater emphasis on customs
administration, which is now identified in all country studies as a major barrier to integration.
Mr. Denis Bélisle, Executive Director/Assistant Secretary-General, ITC
1.
I think you're all aware, how keen we are to contribute everything we have and can to the
Doha Development Agenda. We've reviewed very attentively the technical assistance programmes of
our two parents, WTO and UNCTAD and we consider that we can complement both of their
programmes in a number of specific ways directly related to our experience and responding to specific
needs expressed be the export community of the LDCs. Mr. Moore made reference to that in his
opening remarks and I thank him for that. Our target clients, as you know are the small and medium
size enterprises and their trade support organizations. We very strongly believe that in addition to a
solid rules based multilateral trading system firms need to know WTO rules, they need to have goods
in Services to export, and they need export skills for exports to be generated. This is precisely what
our programme of work is all about. Large companies, anywhere in the world, north and south and
small companies working in the north have easy access to all sorts of professional services to become
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competitive and skilful exporters. Smaller firms in the south do not have those and this is precisely
what we are trying extremely hard to bring to them. Our programmes in Services and Tools, at ITC,
are targeted, they're concrete, they're practical, they're designed with and for the SMEs and their trade
support organizations.
2.
Upon our return from Doha, we reviewed all of our activities with a view to sharpen their
focus, in line with the promises made in Doha. We've defined them succinctly and clearly in a
document that we made available today, short document, four page, colourful, it's at the back of the
room, I really hope that you will have a look at it, it won't take you very long and it will give you a
fairly good idea of what we have to offer. Equally important, perhaps more even, if you believe that
those programmes can make a difference, please help us put them to work for those who need them,
we do need funds, it's the WTO Pledging day, so I won't steal to much in your but we need the same
to get going, and please keep in mind that this is the case in addition to that, we do need, I think there
is room for us to work even more with other Development Organizations, we are enjoying good team
work with the other five Integrated Framework and more so all the time, but beyond that, I think there
are other multilateral Development Agencies as well as bilateral with whom we could work better and
more and it's really my suggestions to you all, do not be shy, please bring us on board each time you
believe that together we may do something better than we would do separately. It's our earnest desire
to contribute everything that we have, but we need a basis, we need something to work from, we've
written those four pages in hope that they could serve as a basis to go much further with many more
of you.
Mr. Carlos Fortin, Deputy Secretary-General, UNCTAD
1.
UNCTAD's involvement in supporting the negotiating capacity of the developing countries in
multilateral trade negotiations goes back 30 years, to the start of the Tokyo Round in the early 1970s.
In accordance with its mandate on trade and development, UNCTAD's technical assistance is guided
by the objective of helping developing countries to ensure that the results of the negotiations are
consistent with their development needs.
2.
UNCTAD technical assistance in this area has evolved in recent years, showing a “learning
process” of the secretariat in fine-tuning the priorities and the modalities of delivery. At present,
UNCTAD Technical cooperation yearly expenditures amount to about US$ 25 million a year, with a
focus on capacity-building and priority given to LDCs.
3.
During the Uruguay Round, one of the main focus of UNCTAD assistance was the
negotiation on services, that was, at that time, a “new” issue, in connection with which developing
countries lacked experience. The final shape of the agreement on services, based on a “positive list”
structure where the countries can define their commitments in accordance with the needs of their
development strategy reflected UNCTAD debates and thinking at the time.
4.
During and after the Uruguay Round, many of the national studies on services and on the
implications of the new multilateral agreements in developing countries were produced by consultants
from those countries, supported by UNCTAD projects, and demonstrating that the process of building
local capacities was bearing fruit.
5.
In the months before the Seattle Conference the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, launched the
work on the “positive agenda”, aiming at providing technical tools that help the developing countries
in the identification of their own objectives and interests in the trade negotiations. The increasing
proactive participation of a larger number of developing countries was clearly shown in the
preparatory process of the Seattle Conference through their capacity to formulate half of the proposals
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that were on the table at that time. The Commercial Diplomacy programme was launched in parallel
to the work on the positive agenda as a specific technical assistance instrument targeting the
negotiating capacity of the developing countries and economies in transition.
6.
The UNCTAD Secretary-General presented at the UNCTAD Trade Commission last month
the elements which, according to the UNCTAD secretariat, emphasise the development content of the
Doha Programme of Work:



It contains a number of issues raised by the developing countries since the preparation of the
Seattle Conference and which are now part of the new negotiating mandates. The developing
countries were able to ensure that many of the implementation issues raised by them are now part
of the “single undertaking”.
The need for a special and differential treatment was also successfully inserted in all the areas of
the Doha Work Programme, leading to what Mr.Ricupero has called “a revival” of the special
and differential treatment concept.
The important role given to the technical assistance and capacity building in the Doha Work
Programme is another success of the developing countries. The quality and the quantity of the
technical assistance provided to the developing countries has now become part of the multilateral
trade agenda. Indeed, the new negotiations launched at Doha will not achieve meaningful
development results if the scope and the impact of the technical assistance and capacity building
does not match the expectations of the developing countries.
7.
I mention the quality of the assistance provided because UNCTAD is firmly convinced that
“trade-related” implies both the process leading to the formulation of a national trade policy, where
the negotiating position is the final result of that process, and the implementation of the results of the
negotiations in terms of concrete trade and development opportunities that call for a supply response.
The multiple links between trade and development are the core of this process, and should, therefore,
be the core of the assistance provided. It is this vein that we have participated strongly in supporting
developing countries in the preparations for the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Financing
for Development that will take place next week in Monterrey and for the World Summit on
Sustainable Development that will convene later in the year in Johannesburg.
8.
UNCTAD'S proposed contribution to the post-Doha technical assistance effort is contained in
the "UNCTAD post-Doha Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Plan" that was presented last
month to the UNCTAD Commission on Trade in Goods and Services, and Commodities. The Plan
has four key features:
-
-
-
-
it is demand driven: it contains the specific demands for UNCTAD assistance expressed by
the developing countries and LDCs in the consultations held with them after the Doha
Conference in all the areas of the Doha Work Programme, including the “Singapore issues”;
it is differentiated: it takes into account the variety of situations and needs among developing
countries and favours a tailor-made and regularly updated assistance as opposed to a “onesize-fits-all” programme;
it includes strong components on the articulation between regional, subregional and
multilateral negotiations, as requested by the developing countries and the LDCs, and in full
compliance of our mandate on regional integration; for instance, the group of ACP countries
in Geneva has requested UNCTAD assistance for their parallel negotiations at the WTO and
with the European Commission;
finally, it is explicitly oriented towards an open, intense cooperation with all other
international and regional organisations, particularly the WTO, in all the negotiating topics of
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the Doha Work Programme, including the non-negotiating Singapore issues as well as the two
new WTO working groups on trade, debt and finance, and transfer of technology.
9.
An important component is UNCTAD cooperation with the WTO. In virtually all UNCTAD
training events, technical missions in the field, and Geneva-based activities, the WTO secretariat has
participated and has made valuable contributions. Recently, for instance, the WTO participated very
usefully in the workshop on anti-dumping co-organised by UNCTAD and AITIC (the Agency for
International Trade, Information and Cooperation). In less than one month, a regional seminar on
agriculture trade and negotiations will be organised by UNCTAD at Conakry for all the members of
ECOWAS, and the WTO and the FAO will be making inputs. We look forward to the participation of
the WTO in several other initiatives that are already being prepared for the next few months, in
Geneva and in the countries, some of them in cooperation with the UN Regional Commissions.
10.
In the context of inter-agency cooperation, we are very much inspired by the JITAP
experience, that is, in UNCTAD’s view, a successful model put together by three Geneva-based
agencies, UNCTAD, WTO and ITC.
11.
We also cooperate with the WTO, the World Bank, ITC, UNDP and the IMF in the Integrated
Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to the Least Developed Countries, and we
welcome the recent efforts to maximize the contribution from all agencies to the Diagnostic Trade
Integration Studies (DTIS), led by the World Bank, taking advantage of their respective expertise and
comparative advantage to enhance the spirit of partnership in this exercise.
12.
The technical assistance plan of UNCTAD covers trade, including competition policies;
investment; trade facilitation; and electronic commerce. The activities will target three main areas of
assistance: policy analysis, human resources capacity building and institutional capacity building. We
look forward to close collaboration with WTO, ITC and other organisations in its implementation.
13.
Finally, few words about our technical assistance work in two areas where UNCTAD is
specifically mentioned in the Doha Programme of Work
Investment
14.
This an area where UNCTAD has some comparative advantage, as we have a whole Division
devoted to investment issues. Cooperation with WTO in implementing the post-Doha agenda on
investment is already underway, particularly work on international investment agreements
15.
Specifically, two intensive courses on investemtn will take place in the next few weeks: for
Anglophone African countries in March 2002 and for Francophone African countries in May 2002.
16.
Other events activities are scheduled in the framework of the regional symposia work
programme and the Geneva-based seminars programme. Work will also start on the analytical and
institution-building components of the investment follow-up to Doha, with particular reference to
analysis of past country experiences with investment policy measures and options in the pursuance of
national development objectives, and of experiences at the bilateral and regional level that ought to be
brought to bear on multilateral discussions in this area. Institutional capacity-building in this context
focuses in particular on the dimensions of investment promotion and the enabling infrastructure.
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Competition
17.
Another area where UNCTAD has been active for a number of years. A significant number of
specific technical cooperation activities are to be implemented in cooperation with other agencies in
particular WTO. UNCTAD and WTO have agreed to co-organize six regional workshops in 2002 for:
(i)English speaking African countries; (ii) French-speaking African countries; (iii) the Caribbean
region, (iv) Asian countries; (v)all Africa and Arab countries and (vi)Central and Eastern European
countries. It has also been agreed to hold a Joint Symposium in Geneva, back-to-back with the April
meeting of the WTO Working Group on 22 April 2002. Possibilities for cooperation with the World
Bank and the OECD are also being explored.
In conclusion
18.
UNCTAD wishes to reiterate its constructive engagement aiming at achieving the
expectations of the developing countries raised by the Doha Work Programme.
19.
UNCTAD technical assistance Post-Doha programme is the result of intensive consultations
with developing countries and a reflection of their concerns and priorities among the various elements
of the Doha work programme and the type of assistance they would expect from UNCTAD.
20.
UNCTAD will cooperate closely with the WTO and other organisations involved in
delivering trade-related technical assistance with a view to maximising sysergies and avoiding
unnecessary duplication
21.
UNCTAD is grateful to those donor countries that have pledged support this morning for
UNCTAD's work in trade-related technical assistance activities.
Mr. Alexei Kireyev, Senior Economist, IMF Office in Geneva
1.
Thank you for inviting the Fund to participate in the Pledging Conference for the Doha
Development Agenda Trust Fund and to speak on how the Fund can contribute towards implementing
this major policy initiative. The Fund assigns great importance to the Doha Ministerial Declaration
and to one of its key messages—that the trade and development communities must work together
more effectively if globalization is to fully benefit the poor. Although the Fund’s core expertise and
policy advice relate to the functioning of the international monetary, financial, and exchange rate
systems, we see a variety of ways in which the Fund can step up activities in support of the Doha
Development Agenda, both in terms of technical assistance and broader macroeconomic cooperation.
The Fund’s role in technical assistance
2.
The Fund is an active participant in the implementation of the Integrated Framework for
Trade-Related Technical Assistance to LDCs and considers that progress achieved to date in the pilot
countries is encouraging. The immediate priority now is to ensure effective follow-up in the pilot
countries by agencies, bilateral donors, and the countries themselves. There should be evidence that
the diagnostic studies lead to concrete results in terms of mainstreaming trade into a country’s
development and poverty reduction strategies, and also to generating additional support from donors
and agencies. We remain fully committed to further expansion of the IF, but its extension beyond the
second group of countries already in the pipeline should be based on the IFSC’s judgment on the
effectiveness of the scheme. We also consider it advisable for donors and agencies to take stock of the
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financial and expert resources that will be available for follow-up technical assistance. To maintain
credibility, we should not promise more than can be delivered.
3.
In principle, the Fund supports the idea of extending the concepts embodied in the IF to other
low-income countries. However, significant engagement in this area should not divert resources from
LDCs and should follow a careful assessment of agency and donor capacity to meet commitments
under the IF scheme. Work on non-LDCs may have to take place outside the institutional framework
of the IF, and could target specific trade-related problems more selectively in order not to involve all
IF agencies each time. There might also be less need than in the case of LDCs to subsidize such
assistance. While it may be difficult to increase Fund trade-related technical assistance towards LDCs
and other low-income countries at the same time, the Fund would contribute to diagnostic studies, and
would strive to reflect their results in its policy dialogue with member countries.
4.
As part of its own technical assistance, the Fund is currently providing significant traderelated technical assistance in customs administration and tariff reforms to a number of developing
countries, including 14 LDCs. The Fund may have additional capacity to expand assistance in these
areas and stands ready to respond to requests for such assistance, in particular from IF pilot countries.
Trade for development
5.
As a global monetary and financial institution, the Fund’s role in implementing the Doha
Development Agenda extends beyond technical assistance. The International Monetary and Financial
Committee (IMFC) of the IMF Board of Governors, in its communiqué of November 17, 2001, called
forcefully on all countries to stand firm against protectionist pressures. In particular, it called on the
advanced economies to improve access to their markets and reduce trade-distorting subsidies, for the
benefit of their own citizens and to provide critical support for developing countries. The IMFC asked
the Fund to strengthen surveillance in those areas and to help promote international efforts to open
markets.
6.
The Fund believes that technical assistance is not a substitute for market access and is
stepping up the analysis of market access issues and agricultural subsidies. The Fund is also
developing a systematic approach to covering market access issues in its Article IV consultations and
staff reports. This approach is being extended from Quad countries (begun over the past year) to other
developed countries and to large traders among developing countries.
7.
The Fund also seeks to ensure, working together with the World Bank, that trade is better
integrated into national poverty reduction strategies, drawing on IF diagnostic studies, where
available. PRSPs so far have generally emphasized issues of public expenditure management and
have focused less on trade and its growth-related potential, a problem that has been identified in the
recent PRSP review. Through the Joint Staff Assessments, the Fund and the Bank intend to increase
the focus on trade and other policies relevant for growth.
8.
Finally, there are a variety of other areas in which the Fund is taking steps to support and
complement the Doha Development Agenda, for instance in the area of financial sector assessments
and in relation to the work of certain WTO bodies. We have already approached the WTO to explore
synergies between negotiations on financial services and the Bank-Fund Financial Sector Assessment
Program. The Fund is happy to cooperate with WTO bodies in the areas of its expertise (while
respecting the mandates of both institutions)—market access, revenue impact of trade liberalization,
subsidies, and investment. In particular, we expect fruitful cooperation with the WTO in the Working
Group on Trade, Debt, and Finance, which we would hope to be invited to join on a permanent basis,
as well as in the Inter-Agency Panel dealing with short-term financing problems confronted by net
food-importing countries.
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Ms. Karen Lee, Counsellor, WIPO
1.
On behalf of Dr. Idris, Director General of WIPO, I would like to congratulate you on
initiating this important Conference and what seems to be already successful.
2.
It is also my pleasure to inform this Conference of the good cooperation WIPO enjoys with
the WTO not only in assisting developing and least-developed countries in the area of intellectual
property rights, but also in sharing substantive information as regards intellectual property rights to
further the interests of the two Organizations.
3.
Since this is the Pleading Conference for the Doha Development Agenda on technical
assistance and capacity building, allow me to briefly reflect on WIPO’s technical cooperation
activities as regards our joint activities. As a follow-up to the joint initiative launched in June of last
year by Dr. Idris and yourself, Mr. Chairman, we are organizing two joint workshops this year. One
is to take place in Africa for the least-developed sub-Saharan African Countries and Haiti, and the
second is to take place is Asia for the LDCs in that region. There is also a joint policy meeting in the
field of intellectual property scheduled to take place in Doha, for Arab countries, in April of this year.
In addition to these three workshops, WIPO will be reviewing, with WTO, those requests we have
received from the LDCs pursuant to the joint initiative, with a view to responding to the particular
requests. This may lead to additional Nationally Focussed Action Plans of WIPO and national or
regional roving seminars. Just to give you an idea of the amount of financing, Mr. Chairman, for the
three joint workshops and the foreseen activities as follow-up responses to the joint initiative, WIPO’s
contribution will likely exceed one million Swiss Francs, this year alone.
4.
Allow me to conclude, by reiterating WIPO’s commitment to assist all developing and leastdeveloped countries, beyond the joint initiatives, on all matters concerning intellectual property and to
cooperate with WTO in this area.
Mr. Alberto DiLiscia, Assistant Director-General, Director of UNIDO Office at Geneva
1.
Let me on behalf of UNIDO express our sincere thanks to the WTO Secretariat for having
inviting UNIDO to this Conference.
2.
As the new Director of the UNIDO Office at Geneva, last week I had the chance to participate
in the 39th session of the Committee on Trade and Development where the Annual Technical
Assistance Plan 2002 was approved with the clear indication of Members States to speed its
implementation.
3.
We all know that the challenges in implementing such a plan are enormous and indeed require
all possible efforts. The magnitude, complexity, diversity, and urgency of the issues involved
requires, in addition to the necessary funds, substantive cooperation, policy coordination, and the
specific essential expertise.
4.
In a resolution of the medium-term programme framework for UNIDO for the years 20022005, we were mandated to focus on strengthening industrial capacities. In this context, one of the
key objectives that have been requested to pursue is to support developing countries and countries
with economies in transition to overcome technical barriers to trade and to promote market access of
their products in full integration with the multilateral trading system.
5.
In the recent past, UNIDO had already various opportunities to report on its active follow-up
on the LDC III programme of action, in particular in the field of trade facilitation for LDC’s.
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6.
As the Chairman of the UN High Level Committee on Programmes, our Director-General,
Mr. Carlos Magarinos, had invited many UN sister organizations to join this effort with a view to
develop a truly inter-agency approach to trade facilitation. We are pleased with the preliminary
results already achieved to closely work together with some of them, like ITC, which whom we are in
the process of developing a joint trade facilitation programme in Central America which has a full
sense of ownership. This regional programme was fully endorsed by the 6 vice-presidents of these
respective countries.
7.
As far as the IF initiative is concerned, we believe that significant efforts were made by
UNIDO and specially with the EU to support African LDCs to strengthen their productive and
institutional capacities in order to obtain a more active participation on trade.
8.
A closer working relationship between UNIDO and the IF initiative as regularly suggested
and supported by various member states, LDCs and donor countries will permit, in particular at the
country level, to obtain better results in less time.
9.
Thus, we welcome the suggestion recently done by you Mr. D-G, in making UNIDO and
strategic partner on trade facilitation as it was mentioned in your last report to the Council of WTO.
10.
Finally, I am very pleased to confirm once more that UNIDO is ready to make its own
contribution in order to transform into a reality the objectives fixed in the annual technical plan 2002.
Mr. Charles Arden-Clarke, Senior Programme Officer, Economics and Trade Unit, UNEP
1.
UNEP believes that trade-related capacity building and technical assistance, particularly on
the interface between trade, environment and development, is vital for the development prospects of
the WTO’s less developed members. It is vital not simply so that they can increase their participation
in world trade on fair and equitable terms, but also so that the net contribution of trade to sustainable
development is maximized.
2.
This objective poses a serious policy challenge to all WTO members, both developing and
developed, because of the complexity of the interactions between trade, environment and
development. Since 1994, UNEP has been addressing this challenge in increasingly close
collaboration with our colleagues in the WTO, UNCTAD, multilateral environmental agreements
(MEA), as well as with research institutes and NGOs. From that experience we have learned that a
major capacity building effort is a prerequisite for a successful outcome to the round of trade
negotiations launched at the Doha Ministerial Conference.
3.
The Doha Ministerial Declaration itself emphasizes this truth, explicitly recognizing the need
for capacity building and including commitments to the enhancement of activities in the general area
of trade-related technical assistance, and the specific area of trade and environment. This echoes the
fact that both development and environmental objectives are reflected throughout the Declaration, as
is the commitment of WTO members to develop mutually supportive trade and environment policies,
in favor of sustainable development.
4.
That is an exceedingly complex task. At this conference, UNEP pledges to continue and
wherever possible expand its capacity building effort on this policy interface, as well as deepen
collaboration with the WTO and other institutions. We already appreciate the opportunities that
existing WTO activities, such as its regional seminars on trade and environment, offer for cost
effective, collaborative work between the relevant international and regional institutions. This was
exemplified by the recent WTO Regional Seminar in the Caribbean, in which UNEP participated, also
in collaboration with UNCTAD and the Secretariats of three MEAs.
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5.
The key output from that seminar is, in our opinion, a list prioritizing the capacity building
needs on trade and sustainable development of the thirteen Caribbean countries present. This list,
drawn up by the national trade and environment officials who attended the seminar, represents a
pooling of knowledge and needs, based on balanced perceptions of trade, environment and
development policy objectives in the region. We look forward to future opportunities to repeat this
experience in other regions, but know that our ability to contribute effectively to these seminars will
depend on UNEP and the MEAs raising financial resources for cooperative capacity building
activities. These will necessarily be additional to the resources that the WTO requires to fund these
seminars.
6.
There is another systemic challenge to be met if capacity building on the trade, environment
and development policy interface is to be coherent, cost effective and supportive of balanced policy
integration. While it is clear that capacity building efforts are being increased, there is still no
tradition, and only a limited practice of collaborative activities such as those just mentioned. No
strategic overview has been developed by the institutions engaged in such activities, and efforts
remain fragmented, relatively ad hoc, and in many cases directed to only one of the three policy
objectives, rather than their balanced integration.
7.
As a first step to addressing this situation UNEP, in collaboration with the WTO, has
organized a two-day workshop on Capacity Building on Environment, Trade and Development, which
will take place on 19-20 March, in the Palais des Nations. This workshop is being informed by the
results of questionnaire that UNEP has prepared and distributed to intergovernmental, regional and
non-governmental organizations engaged in capacity building on this policy interface. The results of
this questionnaire, additional research, and UNEP’s own experience have been fed into a background
paper and an annotated agenda. This should allow for a structured discussion of the needs of
developing countries and those with economies in transition, and on ways in which current and future
capacity building activities can better meet those needs.
8.
UNEP believes that enhancing the value and cost effectiveness of capacity building on trade,
environment and development will depend critically on greater coordination and collaboration
between all the institutions involved. The forthcoming workshop will not only test that proposition
but, if it is validated, also set out some preliminary ideas and even project outlines aimed at achieving
enhanced coherence and synergies between capacity building activities. In that sense we hope that
this workshop may also be seen as a part of UNEP’s pledge to assist with trade-related technical
assistance, and enhance its value to beneficiary countries.
9.
We are convinced that meeting the capacity building needs and challenges of maximizing
trade’s contribution to sustainable development requires both more resources, and better use of
existing ones. We know that the maximization objective can only be achieved by more collaboration
between the WTO, UNEP, UNCTAD, UNDP, the World Bank, MEAs, regional organizations and
NGOs, to name but some.
10.
UNEP stands ready to collaborate closely with WTO, and other interested institutions, in
meeting the Doha related capacity building requests of developing countries. We look forward to
addressing these complex but stimulating policy integration challenges, in partnership with many of
you who are here today.
Dr. Jamel Eddine Zarrouk, Division Chief, International and Regional Organization,
Economics and Technical Department, Arab Monetary Fund
1.
On behalf of the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), I am pleased to take part in this Conference
and wish to thank Mr. Mike Moore and the WTO Secretariat for inviting the AMF to this key
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conference in supporting the ongoing process of enhancing the abilities of developing countries to
participate fully in the work of the WTO and to derive maximum benefit from it.
2.
To begin with, I would like to introduce briefly the Arab Monetary Fund’s activities, before
outlining the AMF foreseen contribution to the WTO technical assistance and capacity building plan.
3.
The AMF, a regional inter-governmental financial organization, was established by 21 Arab
countries of the Middle East and North Africa in 1976 and has a paid up capital of 1.3 billion dollars.
The main objective of the AMF has been to assist its member countries with balance of payments
difficulties and macroeconomic unbalances through financial support, technical assistance and policy
advice. In this capacity, the AMF has extended financial supports to member countries that undertook
macroeconomic adjustment programs. Between 1982 and the end of 2001, the AMF lent about $ 2.5
billion in support of adjustment programs in seven Arab countries.
4.
As member countries moved toward implementing structural reforms to improve the
efficiency of resources allocation and promote growth, the AMF refocused its efforts through
establishing new lending facilities to support members in their efforts to reform and modernize their
financial and banking sector and public finance. These facilities have become the core of the Fund’s
lending activity, in the recent years.
5.
The AMF has also been actively involved in the technical assistance through holding
consultations for policy advice in the implementation of both adjustment programs and marketoriented policies to improve the efficiency of resource allocation and promote open trade regimes.
The AMF technical assistance activities extend also to capital markets development. In this regard,
the AMF has assisted member countries strengthen their stock markets through dissemination of
information on the activities of these emerging markets and the development of a composite index on
these markets as an analytical tool in evaluating their performance.
6.
Training has been another major activity that the AMF has provided to its member countries
through its Institute of Economic Policy that was established in 1989. The AMF Institute has
delivered specialized training in economic analysis and policy related subjects for officials of member
countries. From 1989 to 2001, more than 2898 officials from the 21 Arab member countries had
participated in Institute courses and seminars.
7.
As regional demand for training has increased, the AMF collaborated with the International
Monetary Fund to set up the Joint Regional Training Program (RTP) to make training more accessible
to officials of member countries from the Middle East and North Africa region.
8.
In its endeavor to promote regional trade, the AMF established in 1989 so called the Arab
Trade Finance Program (ATFP), a regional trade financing scheme to assist in financing regional
trade. The AMF contributes more than half of the ATFP capital of 500 million dollars. ATFP also has
played an important role in providing a wide range of trade-related information services to regional
traders, investors, and businessmen through its Intra Arab Trade Information Network (IATIN). I
should mention here that IATIN is also a collaborative effort with the UNDP and the International
Trade Center (ITC). IATIN has its central core at ATFP headquarters in Abu Dhabi and its focal
points at chambers of commerce and export promotion centers throughout Arab countries. These focal
points are important sources of feeding the necessary and timely information on national market
access regulations and trade opportunities.
9.
Let me highlight now the AMF foreseen contributions in helping build trade capacity in its
Arab member countries. To this end, the AMF will join forces here to expand its assistance to its
member countries on three levels. First, to assist in national capacity building as a proven way to
sustain good trade policy. Second, to strengthen the regional focus of trade capacity building
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initiatives. And third, to cooperate with the WTO Secretariat in stepping up joint activities to assist
the Arab countries.
10.
Regarding building national trade-related capacity, greater efforts are required to enhance
domestic analytical capacity to support the full participation of Arab countries in WTO work and
negotiations. In this respect, the AMF will provide technical assistance and policy advice that put
emphasis not only on the implementation of the WTO agreements but also on how to derive
maximum benefit for the national economy from the participation in the multilateral trading system.
Concurrent to Mr. Mike Moore’ statement, in his opening speech this morning, an important focus
will be given to assisting member countries to build in-country multi-person teams for extended
periods and to ensure the availability of the personnel that can inform negotiating stances and enrich
domestic debate.
11.
As far as building regional trade-related capacity is concerned, the AMF will organize
specialized training and outreach activities on integration and Doha negotiating issues. This will target
not only officials and negotiators, but also civil society and the business community in member
countries.
12.
Finally and not least, the AMF will collaborate with the WTO Secretariat in jointly funding
regional seminars, short trade policy courses and similar activities at the AMF Headquarter.
Cooperation also extends to exchange of experts in joint technical missions to member countries. We
believe that such joint efforts would help the WTO and the AMF in providing technical assistance and
capacity building services to their joint member countries in a cost effective and efficient manner.
The AMF hopes to conclude in the near future a memorandum of understanding with the WTO
Secretariat in this regard.
13.
In conclusion, I look forward to an opportunity to exchange ideas and views with the
beneficiaries, donors, the WTO and other international and regional agencies on how resources can be
most effectively deployed to support trade-related technical assistance and capacity building in our
member countries.
Mr. J.-P. Verbiest, Asian Development Bank
1.
On behalf of the Asian Development Bank, I wish to express our appreciation to the WTO
and to yourself for inviting the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to this meeting today.
2.
As you know, the Asian Development Bank covers a very large region, starting to the west
with the Central Asian Republics and covering to the East 14 small pacific island countries, many of
the countries in Asia, including very small countries, are in different stages of negotiation to enter
WTO and some of these countries are very small and have very weak capacities, so the subject we are
discussing today is particularly relevant in some parts of our region. The Asian Development Bank,
while providing long-term financing, mainly in the form of loans, both concessionary onto nonconcessionary loans also has very large technical assistance programmes, for instance in 2000 alone
ADB's technical assistance programme which is grounds based of course, provided over 300 technical
assistance's for a total 172 million Dollars, so quite a large amount. In the case of international trade
we are providing, already now, lending, loans for supporting trade reform policies, but those with
technical assistance on Trade Investment and Customs practices.
3.
We are well aware of course, that the International Community attaches great importance to
providing technical assistance and capacity building to enable countries to enter the WTO system.
The ADB has been discussing for sometime the possibility of having an MOU together with the WTO
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and possibly other Institutions in this area and I hope over the next few days to be able to advance that
agenda, I will be in Geneva for few more days.
4.
To come to capacity building itself directly, the ADB received a few months ago through the
Government of Japan a request from APEC, to provide capacity building to implement key WTO
Agreements, and the ADB Management has endorsed a capacity building programme, just very
recently to the amount of 450,000.00 Dollars. This is also supported by about half a million dollars of
research in the area of WTO. At the moment, what we envisage to do is to have, basically, a number
of activities, first of all a high level meeting on the WTO trading system for negotiators, intensive
courses on the TRIPs Agreement and then to other areas which relate more to Customs, one intensive
course on trade facilitation with particular emphasis on WCO, and my colleague is here, the revised
Kyoto Convention, an intensive course on WTO Customs Valuation Agreement, I mean, this is only a
start of an ADB project or an ADB activity in this area and, well, needless to say, we will of course
work very closely with WTO and we will discuss this over the next few days with WTO, also with
other partners such as UNCTAD, ESCAP and also what we are looking at is the possibility sharing
experiences among more countries, because some of our countries have just gone through intense
negotiations, and of course very knowledgeable and the gentleman from India for instance mentioned
about that, and this experience can of course be shared with the newer coming countries and the
countries currently negotiating and we think this is an important role ADB together with WTO and
other partners can play.
Mr. Mikuriya, Deputy Secretary-General, World Customs Organization
1.
The WCO is an independent intergovernmental body whose mission is to enhance the
effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations. The WCO has 159 Member administrations
world-wide accounting for 97 % of world trade. To fulfil its mission, the WCO develops and
maintains instruments and recommendations for the standardization and simplification of Customs
systems and procedures governing the cross-border movement of goods. We also provide Members
with training and technical assistance to implement trade and Customs instruments and best practices.
2.
Turning to the Doha Development Agenda, we welcome the Ministerial Declaration’s
recognition of the case for further trade facilitation and the need for enhanced technical assistance and
capacity building in this area. We see our role as being complementary to the WTO in developing
instruments to support the WTO rules and in delivering training and technical assistance to implement
those rules. We are keen to intensify our capacity building in all the areas related to trade facilitation.
In this connection, we will be happy make our experts available to provide technical assistance in
Geneva and at regional level in order to help WTO negotiators fully understand the background, the
achievements, the issues and the long-term capacity building available in respect of trade facilitation.
3.
To provide a little more detail of our activities - the WCO develops, maintains, promotes and
implements trade instruments, including the WTO Valuation Agreement and the WTO Agreement on
Rules of Origin. Of similar importance is the WCO’s Harmonized System of tariff classification,
which serves as the basis for WTO market access negotiations. The uniform, predictable and
transparent application of these instruments facilitates international trade, while at the same time
ensuring compliance with national laws and regulations. To assist the implementation of these
instruments, the WCO places great emphasis on equipping officials at operative levels with the
knowledge and skills necessary to apply the Agreements.
4.
If I take the example of Valuation, the WTO Valuation Agreement designates the WCO as the
international body responsible for interpreting the Valuation rules and providing technical support in
their respect. To give effect to this, the WCO Technical Committee on Customs Valuation, working in
close co-operation with the WTO Committee on Customs Valuation, has developed a number of
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instruments to provide guidance to Members in ensuring the uniform application of the WTO
Valuation Agreement. A large number of least-developed and developing-country Members still have
to prepare implementing legislation and establish an adequate administrative infrastructure to apply
the Valuation Agreement. With its expertise, the WCO is actively assisting Members as they prepare
to implement and apply the Agreement. In fact, over the last four years in the Valuation area alone
the WCO has provided 400 days of training for 2,000 participants from 80 countries. That training has
been totally funded out of our Members’ contributions. We are sure that we will deliver the same
assistance to Members when the Harmonized Non-Preferential Rules of Origin come into force.
5.
The WCO has also devised and circulated best practice models and recommendations on
Customs procedures and facilitation. We continuously update our instruments to keep abreast of
developments in information technology and in Customs techniques such as risk management, and to
take account of the highly competitive business environment. As a result of years of deliberation
amongst our Members, the revised Kyoto Convention on Customs procedures provides for the
introduction of clearance procedures that are clear, transparent, simplified and automated and are
therefore in accordance with the relevant GATT Articles on trade facilitation. In addition, we are
currently working on a number of supporting initiatives, including the WCO Customs Data Model to
establish standard data sets and electronic format for most commercial declarations, as well as
Guidelines for the immediate release of consignments by Customs.
6.
Needless to say, the role of Customs is not limited to trade facilitation – other functions such
as revenue collection and protection of society are also highly important. Many least-developed and
developing countries still depend heavily on Customs duties to ensure their national revenue. The
terrorist attacks of September 11 have highlighted the role of Customs to protect the national territory.
The WCO has sought to reconcile facilitation and increased border controls in consultation with its
Members. These efforts have resulted in the WCO Action Plan to improve security at the frontier,
reinforcing the need for enhanced risk management, advanced transmission of passenger and goods
data, co-operation with the private sector and exchange of information - all concepts that are already
contained in the revised Kyoto Convention.
7.
In the area of training and technical assistance, the WCO’s programmes essentially give those
Members with low and medium levels of revenue the opportunity to invest in their most important
asset, namely their human resources. The missions carried out by the various WCO services provide
Customs administrations with the means to enhance their staff training, as we are in a unique position
to deal with Customs on the ground and in the real world, thanks to our membership network. This
ensures that Customs administrations are better placed to meet the numerous international challenges
they face - challenges which, in addition to the need for transparent and effective procedures, include
the use of common rules by all WCO Members for Valuation, Origin and the classification of goods.
We offer solutions that allow countries to meet their legitimate goals of revenue collection and
protection of society, while at the same time delivering practical trade facilitation dividends. Training
and technical assistance is an extremely important aspect of the WCO’s external activities. Hence,
over the past four years, Customs administrations from developing countries have received over 2,000
days of technical assistance from the WCO and this major effort on our part will continue.
8.
In responding to the growing need for technical assistance, we call upon the experience and
skills of national Customs experts from WCO Member administrations, thus supplementing the
human resources available within the WCO Secretariat. Moreover, we are currently standardizing the
priority teaching materials in order to facilitate the change, in some instances, from traditional
teaching sessions to a formula of distance education.
9.
To ensure greater consistency and transparency in the WCO Secretariat’s technical assistance
activities, we have developed a database listing the technical assistance needs of our Members as well
as details of the missions we have conducted in the past and those that are planned for the future. This
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new computerized tool will soon provide valuable information on the WCO’s training activities,
which will encourage co-ordination between various players – including both donors and recipients –
in the dispensing of technical assistance.
10.
I would like to take this opportunity to stress the importance of better co-ordination amongst
the international community. This is also an area where I believe that, together with other
international agencies, the WCO can play a complementary role to the WTO. With the demand for
technical assistance increasing every year, it is high time to improve the mechanism for co-ordination
between our two Organizations. Earlier I referred to our database containing details of Members’
needs, past records and plans for future training and technical assistance. We will be happy to
exchange this data with other agencies, perhaps through the WTO as a “clearing house” or repository
of information for WTO-related technical assistance, the objective being to enhance coherence of the
efforts being made by the various stakeholders - including recipients, donors and international
agencies - while avoiding unnecessary duplication.
11.
The same applies to co-ordination at national level, as we are concerned about the frequent
lack of dialogue and interaction between Customs administrations and Trade ministries nationally. I
believe that the Doha Development Agenda provides an opportunity to improve this situation and
develop greater coherence and understanding at that level. In doing this, we will be tackling a barrier
that often finds its way into the trade facilitation environment. A co-operative approach shown at the
international level will help support this endeavour.
12.
Finally, your meeting today is a very important step towards consolidating joint undertakings
in order to meet the challenges that the international community has faced for many years. You are
well aware of the enormous scale and scope of the capacity building challenge ahead and the work
required to achieve real results. I congratulate you on your initiative and I sincerely hope that this
conference will indeed be a milestone in gathering the forces in this very important area.
Dr. Ahmed Abdul Wasie, Operation Officer, Cooperation Office, Islamic Development Bank
1.
On behalf of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), I would like to thank Mr. Mike Moore,
Director General, WTO for inviting the IsDB to participate in this important event which has provided
a forum for exchange of views and experiences on specific aspects of the trade related technical
assistance, capacity building, and policy dialogue particularly on the challenges posed by the
mandate of the Doha Development Agenda.
2.
On this occasion, I take the opportunity to shed light on the IsDB's WTO Technical
Assistance Programme which serves the needs of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) 57
member countries located in Africa, Asia, and South America which indirectly complements the
WTO efforts in the field of technical assistance.
3.
While the new multilateral trading system as epitomized by WTO, has greatly contributed to
the liberalization of the world trade, yet it has placed onerous demands on the limited human and
technical resources of the developing countries. As a result, many developing countries including
some IsDB member states have not been able to integrate their economies into the world trading
system so as to fully partake the benefits of trade liberalization.
4.
Keeping in view the recent developments on the international trade scene, the Islamic
Development Bank embarked upon an intensive Technical Assistance Programme in 1997 to help
OIC member countries to upgrade their institutional and manpower resources relating to WTO
activities.
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5.
With an aim to enhance the capacity building of the OIC member countries, the IsDB created
a special WTO Unit in January 1998 dealing specifically with issues concerning the World Trade
Organization (WTO). Of the OIC member countries, 39 are the members of the WTO and 10
countries have observer status and are in the process of accession to the WTO. The IsDB's WTOrelated Technical Assistance Programme covers wide range of activities including courses, seminars,
workshops, studies, and consultative meetings for the OIC member countries in preparation for the
WTO Ministerial Meetings as well as providing specific technical assistance.
6.
The IsDB has organized various consultative meetings at the level of experts, senior
trade officials and trade ministers in favour of the OIC member countries in preparation for the last
four WTO Ministerial Conferences held in Singapore, Geneva, Seattle and Doha. These consultative
meetings provide a forum for member countries to exchange views and coordinate their positions on
the WTO-related matters.
7.
In order to enhance the capacity building of the OIC member countries, IsDB organized and
co-financed a number of courses, seminars and workshops (38) covering a wide range of WTO
issues with an aim to familiarize the member countries with contents and provisions of the Uruguay
Round Agreements and the activities of the WTO so they could be in a better position to defend their
interests. To achieve the above mentioned objectives, the IsDB signed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) with the WTO as well as other relevant institutions such as ITC, UNCTAD
and ESCWA.
8.
In collaboration with the World Trade Organization (WTO), the IsDB has so far organized
Three-week Trade Policy Courses in its working languages, (Arabic, English and French),. These
courses are short versions of the regular Trade Policy Courses organized by the WTO in Geneva for
a period of three months.
9.
Furthermore, the IsDB has undertaken five major sectoral studies on Agriculture, Investment,
Services, Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs), and Electronic-Commerce. In
that regard, the IsDB hired the services of some world renowned experts in such fields and
collaborated with UNCTAD in supervising some of these studies. Each study included selected set of
case studies on OIC member countries and contained valuable technical tips and negotiation strategies
on the various issues concerning the OIC member countries.
10.
The IsDB currently participates two WTO Committees on Trade and Development and Trade
and Environment as an observer.
11.
In line with its WTO-related Technical Assistance Programme , the IsDB provides specific
technical assistance to the OIC member countries on request through hiring consultancy services on
vital WTO issues such as accession, drafting of national laws, establishing WTO Units and providing
capacity building in general.
12.
Once again, the Islamic Development Bank extends its sincere thanks to the WTO Secretariat
for its invitation and appreciates the efforts, support, cooperation and joint collaboration of all the
relevant regional and international institutions in complementing IsDB's efforts to serve the needs of
the OIC member countries.
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STATEMENTS AND PLEDGES BY BILATERAL DONORS:
DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRY MEMBERS
Switzerland
1.
We have been able to establish the Global Trust Fund and draw up a plan for Technical
Assistance, clearly in line with the mandate received in Doha, the creation of this Fund responds to
the growing needs of developing countries and specifically, least-developed countries, vulnerable
economies and transition economies. Without support, it is clear that these countries will not be able
to participate effectively in the negotiations which are being prepared for the next Ministerial
conference.
2.
It is vital that we ensure that efforts not be dispersed and rather that priorities be identified in
order to increase the impact of our activities. Furthermore, the basic needs of developing countries in
trade, goes beyond the assistance which WTO can give, it is important that we continue to think on
how we can establish a coherent and effective mechanism at an international level in order to
implement programmes for capacity building which include the different domains of intervention and
cooperation for trade. This means that we must have the commitment of financial institutions in
technical assistance related to trade. We would like to associate ourselves with the International
Community in order to promote participation of developing countries in the Multilateral trade system.
We will put at the disposal of the Global Trust Fund, a contribution of 1.5 million Swiss Francs
shared over two years, an amount which includes the balance of our bilateral funds to WTO. We
would also like to take this opportunity, Mr. Chairman, to reaffirm the need to bring technical
assistance under the Secretariat's coherent policies, where we identify the needs of beneficiary
countries as mentioned in the new strategies for technical cooperation of WTO, technical assistance
has an impact which is not maximised when this is not brought under the coherent plan.
3.
With a number of other WTO Members and Observers, I take this opportunity to inform
participants in this conference of progress, with an initiative closely related to the purpose of the
Global Trust Fund. This is the AITIC Initiative signed at Doha during the WTO Ministerial
Conference by Ministers of 55 WTO Members and Observers. It recognises the urgent need for
support of resource constrained Member and Observer developing countries with a priority to small
and vulnerable economies and economies in transition and in particular to least-developed countries
and those without representation in Geneva. The objective is to strengthen their capacity to
participate effectively in the WTO and the international system. To this end, the AITIC Initiative
seeks to reinforce, on a basis of partnership between donors and beneficiaries, the ability of the
Geneva-based Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation (AITIC) to respond to
this end by broadening it's funding base and governance structure.
4.
AITIC has now completed four years of successful and effective operations, its present
resources, however, are inadequate to meet demands made on it, particularly as a result of the work
programme established at Doha. Recognising this situation, the signatories of the AITIC Initiative
established a task force to consider the feasibility of transforming the agency into an
intergovernmental organisation. They invited the task force to make a progress report on the occasion
of the UN Conference on Financing for Development which will take place later this month in
Monterrey. In its report, the task force concludes that the establishment of AITIC as an
Intergovernmental organisation, would be both feasible and desirable. It recommends that an
appropriate intergovernmental agreement be drawn up by the end of June so as to permit a signing
conference to take place later this year. These recommendations will be considered by Ministers at a
meeting during the Monterrey Conference, on March the 21st. Participants, in today's meeting, who
would like to study the task force reports, will find copies outside this room.
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Benin
1.
The point of fact, this Pledging conference on the 11th of March 2002 is once again evidence
of the will and spiritual solidarity for international cooperation which has been expressed in Doha and
has made it possible to include a development programme in the WTOs' activities, something which
we continue to support and something which we are delighted about. I think this is evidence of the
fact that in developing countries certain domains and fields which are considered as self-evident, are
serious blockages or hindrances to international trade.
2.
My country ventures to hope that this new awareness , this new dynamism of international
cooperation born in Doha and which is continuing here today will enable the developing countries and
especially the least-developed among them to repair their state of institutional inadequacy,
infrastructural inadequacy so as to make them efficiently able to participate in international trade
thanks to the Fund which we are in the process of setting up.
3.
My country, Benin, would like this Fund, which we are ready to contribute to, to remove the
real obstacles to the trade of developing countries in terms of specific projects and should not be used
for mission expense purposes and to finance mere studies.
Brazil
1.
Capacity building is an essential element in our collective endeavour to generate confidence
in the multilateral trading system as we embark on new round of trade negotiations. Many have
stressed the importance of assisting developing countries so that they are able to participate in and
benefit from the rules based system. It has also been pointed out that we have a development agenda
before us and that unless we provide developing countries with the tools to fully engage in this
negotiating exercise we will fall short of our objectives. While we agree with this view, Capacity
building and technical assistance in themselves will not ensure better access for developing countries
exports nor will they necessarily lead to a more equitable set of disciplines under the WTO.
2.
The core issues for developing countries are fairness and market access in areas where they
enjoy comparative advantages, including agriculture, textiles and clothing, footwear, steel.
Implementation of previous commitments and fair rules, in areas such as antidumping and subsidies
are also among the issues that must be fully addressed if we want the Doha mandate to indeed become
a "development round".
3.
Financing is also a critical element for the promotion of development. In this regard, we
would like to recall that the United Nations Conference on Financing for Development, to be held this
month in Monterrey, Mexico, will review international financial cooperation in a forum wider than
the Bretton Woods institutions and with a broad agenda that also encompasses trade. We are
encouraged to note that the draft Declaration which will form the basis for discussions at Monterrey
refers to international trade as an "engine for development".
4.
Brazil is actively engaged in South-South cooperation, and together with partners in the
Americas, Africa and Asia has been able to carry out a significant number of projects in different
fields. Brazil remains committed to promoting Technical Cooperation and Capacity Building (TCDC)
among developing countries and has been playing an active role in the exchange of best practices and
know how, drawing from its own experience.
5.
In the year 2000 the Brazilian Government took part in more than 100 projects, involving
more than 30 countries, in areas such as public health, agriculture, environment, energy and mining.
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The focus was clearly on LDCs and, among these, Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa. within
Latin America and the Caribbean, Haiti was one of the major recipients. Due to the financing
difficulties faced by developing countries to implement such cooperation in a sustainable way, we
would like to propose that the WTO examine the possibility of channelling part of the resources raised
through the Global Trust Fund so as to allocate them to projects to TCDC projects with an
international trade dimension. Cooperation with international Agencies such as UNCTAD and
CEPAL might also be envisaged, allowing for the establishment of synergies through triangular
cooperation schemes.
6.
Today, I wish to announce that Brazil is ready to organize a training course in Brasilia on
trade negotiations for approximately 30 to 40 professionals from Portuguese-speaking countries and
other interested countries. The Brazilian Diplomatic Academy – Instituto Rio Branco – which is
putting together this initiative, is prepared to cover, among others, the work of WTO subsidiary
bodies, the Doha mandate and the development perspective within the new round of negotiations as
well as more specific topics, such as, dispute settlement, agriculture, services and TRIPs.
7.
We will be approaching interested member States in order to finalize a programme tailored to
their specific interest and expectations. If we can obtain some financial assistance and technical
expertise from the WTO we are confident that through initiatives such as this we will be able to make
a relevant contribution to our collective effort to build bridges among States members regardless of
their level of development, and ensure that the Doha Agenda is truly development oriented.
United Kingdom
1.
UK has long regarded the WTO's programme of technical assistance to its developing country
members as a key function. We have regularly contributed unearmarked, multiyear funds to support
it.
2.
Pleased that the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund has been set up in such a way
as to facilitate the prompt and smooth delivery of technical assistance.
3.
Our Secretary of State for International Development, Clare Short, announced just before the
Doha Ministerial Conference that the UK would make available a further one million pounds sterling
(that is about SFr 2.4m) to strengthen technical assistance efforts. £700,000 of this funding was
promptly made available to the then-existing Global Trust Fund. This contribution has now been
transferred to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund in the form of unearmarked,
multiyear funding to be drawn down by the WTO in accordance with its needs. The remaining
uncommitted portion of £300,000 will be made available to the new Fund in the same form, when the
WTO determines that it needs it. The UK hopes in this way to help the WTO to overcome the
difficulties it has faced in the past of lack of predictability and 'peaks and troughs' of funding which
have hampered the planning and delivery of technical assistance.
4.
The UK will also continue its financial support for the monitoring and evaluation of the
WTO’s technical assistance. It looks forward to working with other Members this year to refine the
WTO's planning and priority-setting for technical assistance activities to ensure that they support the
recipients' development strategies and have the greatest possible impact.
5.
The UK supports the incorporation of technical assistance contributions into the regular WTO
budget and will continue to work towards this objective.
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6.
The UK's contribution of £1 million for WTO technical assistance announced by Clare Short
last November was just one component of a £20 million package to address capacity constraints and
help developing countries formulate trade policies and engage in the WTO. The package included:
(i)
£7.5 million to the UK's Africa Trade and Poverty Programme to help countries and
regional organisations in sub-Saharan Africa to build capacity to formulate and
implement trade reforms which serve poverty reduction goals;
(ii)
an additional £1m for the Integrated Framework Trust Fund;
(iii)
£1m to support countries that are under-represented in Geneva, including support for
the transformation of AITIC (the Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation) into an Inter-governmental Organisation;
(iv)
a further £3 million contribution to the World Bank towards the second phase of its
highly successful Trade Policy and Development programme;
(v)
the remaining £6.5 million will be made available to assist developing countries to
cope with the demands of negotiations.
7.
This £20 million package, added to funding commitments already made for trade-related
technical assistance and capacity-building including to UNCTAD and the ITC, brings the UK's total
commitments for such assistance from 1998 to date to £37.8 million. That is bilateral commitments in
addition to contributions through the European Union.
Statement by Laurence Dubois Destrizais, Permanent Delegate of France to the WTO
Summary: France pledges one million euros to the DOHA Trust Fund.
1.
Today's meeting is significant for all of us, in that it shows our shared determination to
honouring as swiftly and effectively as possible all the commitments made by our Ministers in
DOHA, the focus today being on the financing of technical cooperation and trade capacity-building as
provided for in Articles 38 to 41 of the DOHA Ministerial Declaration.
2.
The successful insertion of developing countries into world trade is a lever of growth and a
weapon in the fight against poverty. Trade capacity-building and technical assistance for developing
countries now figure prominently among the objectives of French official development assistance
policy.
3.
FRANCE is fully committed to this undertaking, in regard to both its bilateral programmes
and its multilateral commitments. Our pledge here today at the WTO is in keeping with a much wider
bilateral and multilateral development assistance programme which France has been working on since
DOHA, particularly with a view to the MONTÈRREY conference on financing for development.
This global plan focuses on the development of trade capacity and on institutional strengthening.
4.
At the multilateral level, I would like to remind you that two years ago we decided to
supplement our traditional and regular pledges made to UNCTAD and the ITC with voluntary
contributions to the WTO.
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5.
We are therefore now pledging a payment of one million euros for the 2000-2003 period. I
think that I will soon be able to confirm that the funds not yet used will be made available to the
DOHA Trust Fund.
6.
Today, we are convinced that the WTO must have the capacity to act as a driving force in the
trade capacity-building process, in cooperation of course with the other development actors. The
integration of trade-related aspects into development policies is a joint responsibility held by bilateral
donors, all the international organizations concerned and the recipient countries.
7.
The debate which was still taking place not so long ago on the issue of whether the WTO
should or should not become a development agency at the risk of losing sight of its primary vocation,
i.e. negotiating multilateral rules to facilitate trade, is now entirely a thing of the past.
8.
Developing countries are in favour of an open and liberal trade policy to promote
development. This is something that we also believe in.
9.
For the WTO to function harmoniously, it requires all-round participation in what I call the
"triptych" of the Organization's activities – fulfilment of the commitments assumed, compliance with
them thanks to dispute settlement, and the negotiation of new undertakings. Trade events of the last
few days have reminded us once more that the WTO is the last safeguard against the law of "might is
right".
10.
In my opinion, the DOHA Development Agenda is a huge step forward: there can be no
multilateral trade negotiations in the interests of all WTO Members unless the commitments already
assumed have been fulfilled; unless each Member can clearly identify its interests in the negotiations
and their impact on its own development strategy before making a commitment, particularly when
new issues are proposed; and, naturally, provided that all Members are in a position to actively
participate in the negotiations themselves, so that none feel excluded or, even worse, constrained by
their outcome.
11.
You wanted this first WTO Pledging Conference to make a real impact. This wish might
appear surprising at first sight. Firstly, the WTO in fact already received regular payments and has a
budget which includes a fair amount of voluntary contributions. Secondly, the WTO Secretariat's
annual coordinated technical assistance plan for 2002, even if it now incorporates actions directly
linked to the DOHA negotiations, which we warmly welcome, fundamentally is not very different
from those of previous years.
12.
However, I think you were right to throw the spotlight on the duality of the DOHA Agenda
and the shared interest of all WTO Members in ensuring that the commitments are respected. Our
Ministers gave us a very tight schedule and it was therefore important that every effort was made for
the different "tools" to be put into place quickly and somewhat visibly in order to highlight the
intention, I would go as far as saying the good intention, of us all. Apart from respecting deadlines,
this will also facilitate the realization of the entire set of commitments contained in the DOHA work
programme, whether they are currently being considered in negotiating groups or in the
Organization's regular fora.
13.
In this context I am very pleased to announce France's pledge of one million euros to the
WTO DOHA Trust Fund.
14.
We obviously hope that no one will forget the urgent need for coordination between donors,
be they bilateral, regional or multilateral, that was highlighted in the DOHA Declaration, but we have
no doubt that the WTO will be exemplary in this regard.
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New Zealand
1.
I am pleased to announce on behalf of the New Zealand Government that New Zealand will
be making a contribution of approximately 370,000 New Zealand dollars or approximately 250,000
Swiss Francs to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund.
2.
All our Ministers made a commitment at Doha to help make the multilateral trading system
work better for development. This includes improved market access for the products that are
important to developing countries, appropriate flexibility for developing countries in implementing
WTO commitments and a significant commitment to providing technical assistance and capacity
building.
3.
These commitments are in keeping with the agreement to include trade and development, and
capacity-building, in the Millennium Development Goals. Enhanced trade capacity as a vehicle by
which developing countries can raise levels of economic growth and standards of living is also
acknowledged in the Financing for Development context, which heads of state and ministers will be
addressing next week in Monterey.
4.
Responding to the mandate on technical assistance and capacity building is perhaps the most
urgent of all the Doha outcomes for us to address. and New Zealand is pleased to be able to play its
part in delivering on this commitment. we also welcome the initiative of the Global Trust Fund along
with the efforts by other Members and the Secretariat to date. We would like to thank the participants
in today's conference for providing us with some further ideas on how we can improve our efforts in
the future.
5.
This is not a new issue though. Like many others, New Zealand has been working hard to
support developing countries' trade concerns for some time now, but Doha has quite rightly given
added impetuous and political weight to this.
6.
We have for several years been an annual contributor to the WTO Technical Assistance
Programme for the Asia-Pacific. In recent years our contributions have been running at NZ$250,000
which is equivalent to around half our annual WTO regular budget contribution.
7.
In addition to this we provide a wide range of bilateral and regional trade policy assistance
from the New Zealand ODA programme. Much of this is focused on our near neighbours, the small
island developing states of the Pacific, who have particular vulnerabilities due to their size and limited
capacity and resources. You will also find New Zealand experts regularly taking part in trade-related
training programmes run by the WTO and others.
8.
We realize however that all the assistance in the world is of no use to developing countries
unless they have access to rich countries' markets. New Zealand has no quotas and minimal tariffs on
products from developing countries. On top of this Least Developed Countries face absolutely no
tariffs for any of their products exported to New Zealand. In the interest of global development we
call on all OECD countries to do likewise.
9.
Ultimately the pledges we have made today are but part of a broader effort, within the Doha
Development Agenda and in concert with other relevant organizations, to better integrate developing
countries into the multilateral trading system. We will also need to continue to work hard in areas
such as the market access and agriculture negotiations to ensure we have the right framework of
policies and rules to help meet this goal. I would like to assure the Membership of our commitment to
these efforts.
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Nigeria
1.
As a developing country and a beneficiary of this programme, I would like to the DirectorGeneral and the Secretariat for organising this Pledging Conference aimed at taking concrete steps to
realise the objectives set out by Ministers in Doha for increasing capacity and technical assistance to
developing countries. We thank all those donors and delegations who have made pledges to provide
capacity building and technical assistance to developing countries. We strongly support the statement
made by the Honourable Minister of Trade and Industry of Kenya, which was delivered by
Ambassador Amina. We are particularly touched by the laudable idea of “Harambe” which means
pulling resources together for the common good.
2.
Let me emphasise that the provision of capacity building and technical assistance is a very
important aspect of the Doha Declaration. The more we are prepared and empowered to take part in
the negotiations, the better the results will be for all parties and the MTS. We have listened to the
advice and statements by major donors. One aspect mentioned by Ambassador Deily is that an effort
should be made to match the outcome of the WTO technical assistance with the level of assistance
given. To this effect we would like to suggest that the Secretariat should develop a follow-up
mechanism that will keep track of the results/effects of what Capacity Building/Technical Assistance
was delivered to each beneficiary, and to ensure that whatever gains are achieved are not lost.
3.
We are delighted to hear in the Director-General’s address that an evaluation of his Capacity
Building/Technical Assistance efforts will be presented to the General Council in December 2002.
The result of that assessment will also give an indication as to how ready we are getting for the
negotiations.
4.
My country as a developing member is a recipient of Capacity Building/Technical Assistance
not a donor. However to emphasise the commitment of my country to this project and the objective it
is intended to address, Nigeria would pledge the sum of SFr. 1,000 to the Fund. In this way we wish
to identify with the project and establish our presence as a co-owner of the programme.
Australia
1.
The active participation of developing country members in the new round of multilateral trade
negotiations is a fundamental prerequisite for success. The efficient provision of targeted and
effective trade-related technical assistance will be a crucial element in the quest to increase the
capacity for meaningful participation by all WTO members.
2.
We therefore welcome the establishment of the Global Trust Fund for trade-related technical
assistance, and are very pleased to be participating in this pledging conference today.
3.
While we firmly believe in the value of trade-related technical assistance, we must remember
that this is only one part of the solution. Real , sustainable economic growth for developing countries
will not occur without meaningful market access, and reform of trade-distorting measures particularly
in those sectors of importance to them.
4.
As a member of the Cairns Group of agricultural exporting nations, Australia has long led the
push for reductions in barriers that rich countries impose on exports from developing countries. The
Cairns Group has undertaken, and will continue to pursue, outreach activities with developing
countries, as we firmly believe that reform of developed country agricultural policies is a key factor in
their development.
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5.
As the Australian Minister for Trade, Mark Vaile said last year, “Developing country farmers
have to compete in the most highly distorted of trading sectors. The current WTO negotiations
provide a key opportunity to correct these distortions. Increasingly, developing countries understand
the stakes they have in the agriculture negotiations, and are lending their voice to the campaign for
reform.” Australia and the Cairns Group will continue to push for a meaningful outcome to the
agriculture negotiations.
6.
Australia also welcomes the work being done in a number of WTO Committees to address the
concerns of developing countries. We look forward to taking part in the review of special and
differential treatment being undertaken in the Committee on Trade and Development in Special
Session, as well as the other working groups that have been established to look at development-related
issues, such as Trade and Transfer of Technology and Trade, Debt and Finance.
7.
Overall, Australia delivered $A28 million in trade-related technical assistance in our financial
year 2000/01. These activities were delivered through bilateral programs, APEC, the WTO, the
Commonwealth, as well as other multilateral agencies, and focussed on trade policy development,
strengthening of customs and quarantine procedures, taxation (including tariff) reform, trade and
tourism promotion and investment policy formulation.
8.
Post Doha, Australia is contributing to other technical assistance initiatives. At the recent
Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the Australian Prime Minister announced a
contribution of $A500, 000 to assist non-resident WTO members pursue their interests in the WTO.
This funding will support the important and effective work of the Agency for International Trade
Information and Cooperation (AITIC), on which the distinguished delegate of Switzerland has already
spoken.
9.
Furthermore, Australia will deliver a second training programme for trade negotiators from
African countries in May this year. The program will assist key African policy makers to maximise
their participation in trade negotiations. Australia will fund the course in conjunction with the
Government of South Africa. We will look to follow this with further targeted and practical trade
policy training in other parts of Africa and the Asia-Pacific Region.
10.
In addition to Australia’s existing broad range of trade-related technical assistance and
capacity building activities, it is my pleasure today to announce that Australia will contribute $A460,
000 to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund. We look forward to working with WTO
members and the Secretariat to ensure that the activities funded by the Global Trust Fund will
advance our collective efforts to ensure that developing countries are fully engaged in the new Doha
Development Agenda negotiations and that the programs are effectively targeted, delivered and
coordinated.
11.
This pledge, along with the other initiatives I have mentioned, demonstrate Australia’s
ongoing commitment to advancing the interests of developing countries. It further reflects the vital
role that increased trade can play in the promotion of economic development and the reduction of
poverty.
Argentina
1.
Argentina attaches particular importance to this Conference on Technical Assistance and
Capacity-Building for two reasons:
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2.
Firstly, because it is a step towards fulfilling the commitments laid down in the Doha
Declaration, and therefore helps the essential confidence-building process. It also signals the
importance of trade and the WTO in the struggle against poverty and underdevelopment.
3.
Secondly, because it has widened the focus to include not only questions regarding
'contributions', but also a substantive dialogue on the policies which will lead to an extensive and
solid programme, and which will resolve issues of coordination and coherence between organizations
and member states.
4.
Argentina, as far as its status as a developing country will allow, grants its full cooperation in
this process by taking CONCRETE ACTIONS in the field of technical assistance.
5.
These actions will be carried out in our country, in international fora and particularly in
Geneva.
6.
In addition to the ongoing programmes, we would like to inform you of two new initiatives.
There are actually two programmes being implemented:
(i)
Firstly, in cooperation with the IDB we are in the process of organizing a technical
seminar in Buenos Aires on Trade and Competition Policies (May).
(ii)
Secondly, our Permanent Mission in Geneva is using an 'agreement by agreement'
approach in preparing a programme of assistance, information and in-depth
discussion, which will take place here. The aim of this programme is to help to
understand rights, implement obligations, improve negotiating capacity, and benefit
from the open and rule-based multilateral system.
7.
This programme has been designed to be implemented on a 'regional or sub-regional' basis,
although applying it on a country by country basis is not to be ruled out.
8.
The programme (including the identification of those responsible for its implementation) will
be given to the Secretariat and made available for viewing on our web page in the next 15 days
(www3.itu.int/missions/argentin).
9.
With these two new concrete actions we have set the wheels in motion.
10.
We are convinced that a substantial part of the Doha Round's success depends on the success
of the Capacity-Building Programme.
Belgium
1.
The importance attached by the Belgian authorities to linking trade and development and
contributing to the growth of DCs by strengthening their trade capacity, is nothing new. Belgium,
which is traditionally an open nation and one very active as regards trade, knows to what extent trade
can promote prosperity and mutual respect between nations when it is governed by rules which have
been freely agreed upon and when accompanied by measures to assist less advantaged countries.
2.
Following on from the Doha Ministerial Conference, Belgium has decided to make new
commitments in the field of technical assistance and trade capacity-building
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3.
I can therefore announce that from this year onwards Belgium will make an annual
contribution of 174,000 euros to the Global Trust Fund.
4.
This contribution will be joined by that of Belgium's Flemish Regional Government, which is
pledging 100,000 euros to the Fund, to be used in projects in Mozambique and Southern Africa.
5.
In addition to these amounts destined for WTO technical assistance programmes, my
authorities have also made efforts to contribute to other trade-related technical assistance
programmes, as we consider it important to underline that the efficiency of our efforts depends on
coherent action between all the actors who may be in a position to provide trade-related technical
assistance.
Thus, Belgium contributes 2.6 million euros to various UNCTAD programmes:
-
750,000 euros to different trade-related projects.
-
3 x 375,000 euros to the 'Globalization and Human Development' programme.
-
750,000 euros to the long-distance learning programme aimed at preparing
negotiators from developing countries for the discussions on trade and investment, as
provided for in the Doha Agenda.
6.
My authorities also plan to provide UNCTAD with funding for a period of two years for an
expert in trade efficiency. This will entail a sum of around 250,000 euros.
7.
Finally, ever aware of the priority which must be given to the least advanced countries,
Belgium has put 750,000 euros into the integrated framework for trade-related technical assistance for
LDCs.
8.
This Belgian contribution of almost 4 million euros for the next 2-3 years, is in keeping with
the European Union's global efforts in the field of trade-related technical assistance and capacitybuilding.
Hong Kong, China
1.
Previous speakers have very eloquently and accurately described the importance of technical
assistance and capacity building initiatives, especially in support of our on-going work in relation to
the Doha Development Agenda agreed to by Ministers last November. I shall not repeat these points
and would only like to associate myself with what has already been said in this regard.
2.
Hong Kong, China is a staunch supporter of the multilateral trading system, and we attach
great importance to technical assistance and capacity building work by the WTO that would help to
ensure the effective participation by all trading partners, large or small, at all stages of development.
To contribute to this important area of work, Hong Kong, China in 1998 and April last year
contributed a total of more than 3 million Swiss Franc to the WTO Trust Funds to support projects
targeted at least developed economies, less advanced developing economies or economies at similar
levels of development.
3.
With the broad scope of work ahead of us as set out in the Doha Development Agenda, the
work on technical assistance and capacity building is becoming ever more important. We believe that
the full participation of all Members in this work is essential to ensure a fruitful and balanced outcome
that will reinforce the multilateral trading system. We therefore see the creation of the Doha
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Development Agenda Global Trust Fund as timely and crucial to the future health of the WTO. The
global nature of the programme and the co-ordinated management of the Fund to finance technical
assistance to developing countries, economies in transition and especially least developed countries
should facilitate the effective, efficient and flexible implementation of the Technical Assistance Plan
agreed to by Members.
4.
To support the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund, we will transfer the balance of
our contributions, that is to say some 0.7 million Swiss Francs, to the Fund. We will also continue to
support the WTO’s technical assistance and capacity building work, both in terms of monetary
contributions and organization of other technical co-operation programmes or events, as appropriate.
Germany
1.
After the Ministerial in Doha and the recent creation of the Trade Negotiations Committee the
establishment of the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund is another major step with respect
to a successful new round of multilateral trade negotiations. this is why the German Government
appreciates this Pledging Conference for the Fund and very much hopes for a positive outcome.
2.
Undoubtedly the multilateral trading system is of major influence for economic development.
Germany therefore underlines the great importance of also mainstreaming trade into development
strategies.
3.
Besides it should be in the particular interest of all member states only to avoid damage to the
system but also to develop it further comprehensively. This in mind, every member state should be in
a position to participate to the widest possible to this process. In this context the WTO should
strengthen technical assistance and capacity building to developing countries, so that every member
can not only exercise its rights and fulfil its duties, emanating from the agreements, but can also
effectively participate in the forthcoming comprehensive negotiations of the Doha Development
Round.
4.
In view of this, Germany signed last December an arrangement with WTO amounting to
about 750,000 Swiss Francs, payments beginning this year . Including this contribution we are ready
to transfer all funds from the former arrangements with WTO - without changing their content – into
the new Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund. That would represent an amount of
approximately 1 million Swiss Francs for the current year. In the following years, around 1,4 million
Swiss Francs will be disbursed.
5.
Additionally the German Minister for Technical Cooperation and Development, Mrs
Wieczorek-Zeul, will officially pledge an amount in the order of 3 million Swiss Francs at the
Monterrey conference "Financing for Development", the payments in 4-year-installments starting next
year.
6.
Mr. Chairman, with multi-year contributions we hope to strengthen the planning and the
quality of the Technical Assistance of the WTO. At the same time we attach great importance to
widening WTO's coordination and cooperation with other international organizations with bilateral
donors. In this context I would like to inform you that Germany has just contributed or will do so
soon approximately 750,000 Swiss Francs for trade-related technical assistance to UNCTAD and
around 3,5 million Swiss Francs for ITC.
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Chinese Taipei
1.
I am greatly delighted and honoured to join this Conference and begin my official duties with
today's session.
2.
The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu has always strongly
support the WTO's efforts to provide capacity building and technical assistance to developing and
least-developed countries. For example, while we were still only an observer to the WTO and not yet
a Member, we contributed US$ 50,000 in support of the Meeting of African Trade Ministers that took
place in Libreville, Gabon, in November 2000. The purpose of that meeting was to enhance African
trade officials' understanding of the WTO's rules and agreements. In addition, we also donated 37,500
Swiss Francs to support the participation of LDCs at the WTO's 4th Ministerial Conference.
3.
As we all know, the meaningful and full participation of developing countries and the least
developed countries in the new WTO-sponsored round of trade talks will strengthen the multilateral
trading system. The goal of the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF) is to place
the needs and interests of developing countries and the least developed countries at the heart of the
WTO work programme. It is our pleasure, therefore, to shoulder a small financial burden in support
of this fund.
4.
As a first step, we have agreed to transfer the balance of our contribution underwriting the
participation of the LDCs in the Fourth Ministerial Conference fund to the DDAGTF. This will be
followed by a further donation of US$ 300,000 towards helping developing countries and leastdeveloped countries in boosting their capacity to implement WTO rules.
5.
In concluding, I would like to take this opportunity to note how much I look forward to
working closely with all of you during my time here in Geneva on this meaningful project as well as
many other matters of relevance to the international trading system. I sincerely wish today's Pledging
Conference every success.
Estonia
1.
Doha Ministerial declaration emphasized further the importance of technical assistance and
capacity building in taking our work forward. The mandate to negotiate goes hand-in-hand with the
mandate to provide adequate assistance to help members to better understand and analyze the
multilateral trading system and to enhance their human and institutional capacity building for trade
negotiations.
2.
We have already started fulfilling this mandate by organizing the work of appropriate
negotiating bodies, by agreeing to the technical assistance plan for 2002, by creating the Doha
Development Agenda Global Trust Fund and last, but not least, by having this pledging conference.
3.
Technical assistance from the WTO has helped Estonia a lot in the accession process and
more importantly, after becoming a member of this organization in 1999. We are convinced that the
assistance provided by the WTO is both effective and addressed to the right people. Therefore, we
believe that now it’s also our turn to help others and we commit ourselves to participate in the Trust
Fund with 10 000 CHF.
4.
Estonia is a small country and our contribution is certainly not big. Nevertheless, we believe it
could be another small step towards our common goal.
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H.E. Mr. Stefan Johannesson, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Iceland
1.
The Doha Declaration is a historic document for the World Trade Organisation and world
trade. This is a document that embodies the common will and commitment of the members of this
organisation to place the interest of the developing countries at the very heart of our work and which
is furthermore reflected in the name of the negotiations ahead of us which the Director General so
appropriately branded the Doha Development Agenda.
2.
Good intentions are one thing. We are all too aware that the real challenge is to translate them
into concrete action, to design the technical assistance and capacity building in a manner which yield
results for those whom they are intended.
3.
We fully realise that this is a complex issue and very demanding on the Secretariat. It has
therefore been particularly encouraging to observe the energy and leadership the Director General has
put into moving ahead with this task of developing a programme of action.
4.
I would like to commend the secretariat and the DG for their efforts and resourcefulness in
designing a mechanism, which in our opinion has all the ingredients for a recipe of success. We find
that drawing up country files is a constructive way to meet the precise needs of each beneficiary in
terms of capacity building and technical assistance.
5.
We also fully appreciate the emphasis on co-operation and co-ordination with other
international and regional organisations. Drawing on the expertise and experience found elsewhere
would only strengthen and complement our work.
6.
The particular attention paid to the small and vulnerable economies in the Doha declaration
strikes a cord with my delegation. Iceland has all the features of a small vulnerable economy, with its
small nation, sparsely populated on a remote island, with a harsh climate prone to natural disasters
and with a very narrow economic base,
7.
I therefore hope I don’t sound over indulgent by saying that Iceland has managed to overcome
the constraints and disadvantages these realities place on its shoulders with an open and liberal
economy and through integration into the world economy. I think therefore that my country is a case
in point proving the importance of assisting the countries, which are faced with the inherent
disadvantages of size, in reaping the benefits globalisation has to offer.
8.
In my capacity as the chairman of the WG on Trade and Transfer of Technology I am
particularly aware of the importance developing countries attach to the working group’s role in
enhancing the work of the WTO in facilitating the integration and fuller participation of the
developing and least developed countries in the multilateral trading system. Technology transfer and
capacity building are mutually supportive and are an indispensable vehicle for further integration. I
hope therefore that the necessary technical assistance will be forthcoming in this area.
9.
Finally, as a token of the support and commitment to the very important work ahead of us in
capacity building and technical assistance, I have the pleasure and honour to confirm my
Government’s decision to donate CHF 15.000 annually for the next three years to the Doha
Development Agenda Global Trust Fund.
Singapore
1.
Singapore welcomes the convening of this pledging conference as a step towards achieving
the Doha Development Agenda. In Doha, our Ministers affirmed that technical cooperation and
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capacity building are core elements of the development dimension of the multilateral trading system.
Ministers also stressed the need for technical assistance to benefit from secure and predictable
funding.
2.
As a country whose only resource is its people, Singapore firmly believes that human resource
development is vital for economic and social progress. Since the establishment of the Singapore
Cooperation Programme in 1992, Singapore has sponsored training courses for over 15,000 officials
from over 138 developing countries in the Asia Pacific region, Africa, Middle East, Latin America
and the Caribbean. In 1996, Singapore concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the
WTO to provide training programmes to fellow developing countries. We are pleased to note that
since then, Singapore and the WTO have jointly conducted 5 training courses in Singapore on WTOrelated issues.
3.
This financial year, Singapore will again contribute towards technical cooperation activities in
the WTO. Together with the WTO Secretariat, we will be organising 2 training courses in Singapore
aimed at assisting developing countries to better prepare themselves for the Post-Doha work
programme. If the need arise, we will consider organising more training courses. We hope that our
efforts will assist developing and least-developed countries to gain a better understanding of WTO
rules and disciplines, thereby allowing them to maximise their gains from the rules-based, multilateral
trading system. Singapore's contributions are modest in comparison to others, but they represent
Singapore's commitment to the Doha Development Agenda and to providing technical assistance and
capacity building to other developing countries.
Norway
1.
Norway was the first member to allocate a voluntary contribution in support of WTO’s
technical assistance activities. Our contribution was earmarked assistance to the benefit of LDCs.
2.
We are pleased to note that LDCs remain the priority category for the delivery of WTO traderelated technical assistance as stated in the Secretariat’s annual technical assistance plan. As we see it
LDC’s should be at the forefront of WTO’s technical assistance due to the seriousness of their need
for a better integration in the multilateral trading system. Accordingly, we urge that the LDCs be
given priority in the future technical assistance activities of the fund. My delegation will follow the
implementation of the Technical Assistance Plan closely to ensure that this is the case.
3.
In order to secure predictable funding for WTO’s technical assistance, these activities should
in our view be funded through the regular WTO budget. We took the initiative to this important
proposal before Seattle and hope all members will agree to it in the near future.
Today we are
pleased to note, however, that several members are willing to share the financial burden, make
substantial pledges and increase the funding for technical assistance at the WTO.
4.
Norway pledges NOK 6 million, roughly CHF 1,1 million, to the Doha Development Agenda
Global Trust Fund for the year 2002.
5.
To ensure predictable funding of WTO’s technical assistance activities, Norway is prepared to
consider further contributions for the years 2003 and 2004. Decisions on future contributions will be
made bearing in mind the need for proper burden sharing among financial donors. We will also
closely follow and evaluate how successful the WTO Secretariat is in implementing the planned
technical assistance activities.
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Ireland
1.
Ireland is pleased to announce a pledge of _.34m to the WTO Trust Fund in 2002. This
pledge underscores our confidence in the WTOs capacity to implement the mandate given to it at
DOHA on trade related technical assistance and capacity building.
2.
Ireland is particularly committed do assisting least developed countries to develop their trade
capacity needs. We encourage the WTO Secretariat to intensify its role within the Integrated
Framework in order to better address these needs.
3.
The technical assistance plan for 2002 is heavily orientated towards the delivery of technical
assistance by the Secretariat itself. We urge the Secretariat to vigorously pursue ways of cooperation
with other multilateral agencies in the operation of the Trust Fund.
4.
The WTO Secretariat should develop its role not only as a delivery agent of technical
assistance, but should also play a coordinating role in the circulation of information on trade related
technical assistance generally.
5.
The Secretariat could seek to become a focal point for the assistance provided by bilateral and
multilateral donors, the objective being to avoid duplication of effort.
6.
In this regard, we welcome the Secretariat’s plan to set up a data base to which WTO
members and international agencies would contribute. This data base should serve as a basis for
monitoring the trade related technical assistance provided by various actors.
Netherlands
1.
It is important to keep momentum for a vital aspect of the work of the WTO, namely traderelated technical assistance and capacity building, and to implement the commitments laid down in
the Doha Declaration in this respect.
2.
Since 1997 and the start of the technical assistance programme of the WTO, the Netherlands
has been a major contributor to the Global Trust Fund, and other technical assistance related activities.
For example, the Netherlands initiated the Trainee Programme of the WTO in 1998. At present 5
trainees on annual basis are receiving on-the-job training in the Secretariat which costs roughly
750,000 Swiss Francs a year.
3.
The Netherlands has also contributed to the IF programme for least-developed countries.
Occasionally the Netherlands supports ad hoc activities. In 2001, for example, the Netherlands
contributed to the NGO seminar and a Workshop on TBT. In total, the Netherlands' voluntary
contribution to the WTO over the years 1997 to 2001 has been over 8 million Swiss Francs.
4.
However, the Netherlands does not limit its' support to activities in WTO. Trade-related
technical assistance and capacity building efforts by other organisations such as the World Bank,
UNCTAD, ITC and the Advisory Centre on WTO Law are receiving Dutch financial support. we are
also considering to contribute to a strengthened AITIC.
5.
Trade-related technical assistance and capacity building has become a sexy topic and
everyone wants to get involved now. We want the relevant organisations to work closely together but
also to ensure a clear division of labour. The issues are too important to have wasteful overlaps or
institutional jealousies. We feel that efforts to improve coordination and promote synergy between
the organisations are starting to show results. This will require an ongoing effort.
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6.
Before I come to the Netherlands pledge, I would like to express my satisfaction that so many
pledges have been made and that the costs of the WTO technical assistance activities will be shared
among so many countries. Nevertheless, the Netherlands is of the opinion that the continuity and
predictability of funding for WTO Technical assistance activities and fair burden sharing, are best
served by on budget funding.
7.
At this point, I can confirm that the Netherlands has decided to transfer the remaining balance
of the Dutch Contribution to the Global Trust Fund, an amount of 1 million Swiss Francs, to the Doha
Development Agenda Global Trust Fund.
8.
In addition we pledge for 2002 an amount of 680,000 Euros, also a little over 1 million Swiss
Francs. Thus, in total, the Netherlands will make available 2 million Swiss Francs to the Doha
Development Agenda Global Trust Fund.
9.
As has been the case with previous contributions from the Netherlands, the pledge will be
without any earmarking. I would like to urge other donors to follow the same practice. In the Doha
Declaration, members of the WTO agreed on the premises upon which the current WTO Technical
Assistance Plan has been built. Let's have some confidence in our own collective decision-making
and in the WTO Secretariat, and try to make its' work easier, and not limit its' capability to implement
the plan in full by all sorts of conditions.
Czech Republic
1.
The objective of this Conference, whose holding had been hardly conceivable until a few
years ago, is to build on the success of the Ministerial Conference in Doha and steps that have been
taken since then to ensure that the WTO is capable of responding to the needs and concerns of the
least-developed countries, the developing countries and the economies in transition.
2.
Today, we are here to display our individual and collective support for WTO's technical
assistance both in terms of implementing the existing agreements and in terms of negotiation capacity,
and in particular to contribute to creation of a sound basis for the Doha Development Agenda through
voluntary contributions by Members.
3.
However, the Conference is not just a fund-appealing exercise. It is also an important
occasion to engage in a policy dialogue on how to enhance integration of less developed countries in
the open, rules-based multilateral trading system and enable these countries to share more fully the
benefits of new opportunities offered by globalization and new market openings.
4.
Under its' national GSP scheme, the Czech Republic grants preferential treatment in the form
of reduced duties to a large number of developing countries and economies in transition. Imports
originating in the least-developed countries enjoy duty and quota free access to the Czech market. We
do have a well established system of development aid which is provided both bilaterally and
multilaterally.
5.
In this institution, the Czech Republic has contributed to technical assistance and capacity
building activities organized by the WTO through its contribution to the regular budget. It has also
committed extra-budgetary donations to cover the costs of the participation of representatives from
the least-developed countries in the previous Ministerial Conferences.
6.
We have been informed by the Secretariat that the trust fund created for the participation of
LDCs at the WTO 4th Ministerial Conference in Doha, to which the Czech Republic also contributed,
still has a balance. We would like to pledge our part in the balance, the is CHF12,500, to the Doha
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Development Agenda Global Trust Fund, with the simple earmarking that this money be used for
activities in which the least-developed countries are beneficiaries.
7.
This brings me to the end of my intervention. Before concluding, I would like to wish every
success to this Conference and express, once again, my gratitude to you, Mr. Chairman, for your
efforts and dedication to the WTO developmental mission.
Statement by H.E. Ambassador Pekka Huhtaniemi, Permanent Representative of Finland
1.
Finland has been recently providing funding to WTO for technical assistance through a two
year commitment. The second year of this old pledge with an allocation of 336,000 Euros, is now
being implemented. At the same time, we are preparing a new two year commitment for 2003-2004
with a total allocation of 840,000 Euros for the two years.
2.
We have to remember, however, that money alone is not enough and that WTO, though in a
key role at this stage, cannot do everything by itself. The task before us is enormous and the
contribution of all organisations working in this field is needed according to their spheres of
competence and strengths. A system wide coordination mechanism is badly needed so that we know
what should be done, and by whom, to ensure implementation of all commitments and to avoid
duplication. We are convinced that such a mechanism would ensure a more effective delivery. In this
regard, we welcome the Joint Communique by the six core agencies of the Integrated Framework
issued in Washington D.C. on 26 February 2002. If needs arise Finland would be ready to allocate
more, further funding to trade related technical assistance and capacity building within a framework
of coordinated international operations.
3.
Before finishing I would also like to emphasize the fact that our perspective is not limited
only to this year and to the reports to be given in December and at the Fifth Ministerial Meeting.
Trade related technical assistance and capacity building has to be seen as a long term commitment.
While planning and giving the priority at the moment to the most urgent activities, we have to keep in
mind also the requirements in the long term so that we approach these complex issues in a coherent
way, building the long term activities on those we are implementing in the short term and hopefully
doing it in a well-coordinated framework.
H.E. Mr. Norbert Faustenhammer, Minister, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Austrian
Mission to the WTO
1.
The wide differences in the economic structure between developing and industrial countries,
and the steadily growing importance of developing countries in the WTO, mean that trade
negotiations are increasingly linked to development issues. Differing views on many of the important
topics in WTO, from government procurement to market access and investment, often reflect real
differences in economic structures and levels of development.
2.
Unfortunately, the multilateral trading system does not, for various reasons, automatically
provide the possibility to use to an equal extent the opportunities which it offers to all Members. The
developing world and especially the Least Developed Countries need our particular support, in order
to master the challenge of globalization.
3.
However, the nature and scope of technical assistance in trade policy have been evolving
rapidly due to the growing complexity of the world trading system and a greater involvement of
developing countries and interest groups in trade policy-making. Technical assistance has also
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become a determining factor for developing countries’ participation in the international trading
regime and therefore is critical for a multilateral trading system supportive to development.
4.
In improving technical assistance and capacity building, the Doha Ministerial Declaration was
a step in the right direction. Another important step was the decision of the General Council on
5.
19. December 2001 to establish the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund to finance
the technical assistance.
6.
Today, in the framework of the pledging conference, we have the opportunity to reaffirm our
support for developing countries in practical terms. It is my particular pleasure to announce that
Austria is in a position to pledge on this occasion 200.000 Euros, which corresponds to about 300.000
Swiss Francs.
7.
We are confident, Mister Director-General, that this fund will be administered in accordance
with the WTO’s recent Strategy for Technical Assistance and the Annual Plan for Technical
Assistance, supervised by the Committee on Trade and Development and the Committee on Budget,
Finance and Administration.
8.
Austria's donation is unearmarked. We would appreciate, however, if at least part of it would
be used for issues like Trade and Environment, Trade and Investment and Trade and Competition.
9.
As a matter of fact WTO is facing increasing demands for technical cooperation from member
countries, especially the least-developed ones. Therefore we hope that the Austrian contribution can
help the WTO Secretariat to meet the numerous challenges.
Luxembourg
1.
Luxembourg would like to thank you and the Secretariat for having taken the initiative to
organize this conference, which clearly demonstrates the will of Members to honour the commitments
made in Doha and allows us to give substance to the fine words contained in the Ministerial
Declaration.
2.
We would like to congratulate the Secretariat for the efforts it has made since then to ensure
the active participation of all members in the multilateral trading system, an indispensable condition
for the future of our Organization.
3.
We also support the annual Technical Assistance Plan drawn up by the Secretariat and
particularly the revised version which takes into account the suggestions made by the EU and is more
in keeping with my own country's development strategy. We would, however, have preferred to see
more emphasis given to LDCs and African countries. In this respect, we are pleased to see that the
Secretariat considers its action plan as an evolving programme and that flexibility is therefore
fundamental in its implementation, which must take place whilst maintaining close cooperation and
dialogue with all the parties concerned, the donors and the recipients.
4.
The fight against poverty, along with technical cooperation and capacity-building, are the
main priorities of my country's development policy, and we take an active role in these issues through
a number of international organizations (such as UNCTAD), firmly convinced of the link between
development and the liberalization of trade. My country has already contributed to the financing of
technical assistance activities linked to trade within the WTO by way of a previous contribution to the
Global Trust Fund.
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5.
A residual amount of Sw F 30,000 will be transferred to the Doha Development Trust Fund.
6.
Furthermore, my authorities have requested that I inform you of Luxembourg's decision to
make an additional contribution of 125,000 euros to the Doha Trust Fund.
__________