TUESDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2009

Ministerial Breakfast on the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF)

The Director-General hosted an EIF Ministerial Working Breakfast on 1 December 2009 as part of  the WTO 7th Ministerial Conference. There was a large turn-out both from the least-developed countries (LDCs) and from the donor community as well as from the EIF core agencies. This demonstrates how the EIF has grown and the broad support it enjoys.

> Programme with statements
> EIF: Supporting LDCs to develop trade
> Impact of the financial crisis on least-developed countries

See also:
> Enhanced Integrated Framework
> Aid for Trade

Other WTO Ministerials:
> Hong Kong 13–18 Dec 2005
> Cancún 10–14 Sept. 2003
> Doha 9–14 Nov. 2001
> Seattle 30 Nov.–3 Dec. 1999
> Geneva 18 & 20 May 1998
> Singapore 9–13 Dec. 1996

Key messages

  • The EIF is operational — the partnership is now focusing on efficient delivery and impact on the ground.
      
  • Market access needs to be accompanied by a package of Aid for Trade measures. For the LDCs, this is provided through the EIF.
      
  • Ministers identified three key areas on which to focus:
    (i) ensuring effective delivery and impact on the ground; proof that funds are spent effectively and that duplication is avoided;
    (ii) ensuring predictable funding from donors, which is needed now more than ever before; and
    (iii) tackling issues related to governance, including moving to a permanent EIF Board focused on strategic issues.

 

Speakers

Donors speaking in support of the EIF were the United Kingdom, Sweden, Turkey, Spain, Canada and Japan. The DG invited delegations to share concrete, specific experiences on how the EIF is starting to make a difference. LDCs who spoke included Mali, Yemen, Zambia, Cambodia, Malawi and Lao People's Democratic Republic. Patricia Francis, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, and Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi, Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), reconfirmed the full commitment of both organizations as EIF core agencies.

 

Delivery and impact on the ground

The breakfast confirmed that all have a part to play in demonstrating the EIF's success: LDCs;  trade ministries, mainstreaming and taking forward key reforms to ensure that Aid for Trade is turned into trade flows, jobs and poverty reduction; donors and agencies through their funding and strengthened coordination between their capitals and local offices. 

 

Funding

A predictable flow of resources is needed. The recent financial crisis has heightened this need. The necessity to develop the EIF's capacity to assist LDCs over the next five years is more crucial than ever. The remainder of pledges from the EIF High Level Pledging Conference in Stockholm in 2007 need to be mobilised. In tandem, EIF partners will undertake a review, in early 2010, to re-evaluate the total resources needed over the next five years, taking into account the fact that there are now more LDCs in the EIF and that the value of the dollar has depreciated against other major currencies. 

 

Conclusions

Helping LDCs accede to the WTO is very important; they should take advantage of the EIF process to build their supply-side capacity so that they can benefit from the increased market access that results from accession.

 

Programme

08:00 - 08:05

Opening statement by WTO DG Pascal Lamy

> EIF within the Doha Development Agenda context

08:05 – 08:10

Statement by EIF Executive Director  Ms Dorothy Tembo

> Enhanced Integrated Framework: Making the partnership deliver on results

08:10 – 08:15

Statement by Minister of Mali, Mr Ahamadou Abdoulaye Diallo

> Implementing the EIF in Mali

08:15 – 08:20

Statement by ITC ES Patricia Francis

> WTO/ITC/EIF Joint program in support of the private sector in countries on accession

08:20 – 08:30

Statement by Minister of Yemen, Dr Yahya Yahya Al-Mutawakel

> Implementing the EIF from an acceding country perspective

08:30 – 08:35

Statement by UK Minister, Gareth Thomas

> EIF from a Donor Perspective

08:35 - 09.35

Interventions by Donors, LDCs and Agencies

> Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi,< Secretary-General of UNCTAD

> Honourable Mr. Simon Crean, Minister for Trade of Australia

> Ambassador Marie-Louise Overvad, Denmark

> H.E. Dr Ewa Björling, Minister for Trade of Sweden

> H.E. Mr. Zafer Caglayan, Mınıster of State for Foreıgn Trade of Turkey

09:35 – 09:45

Concluding remarks by WTO DG

> The Way forward