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WT/MIN(15)/SR/1
2 February 2016
(16-0704) Page: 1/4
Ministerial Conference Tenth Session Nairobi, 15-18 December 2015
SUMMARY RECORD OF THE FIRST MEETING
HELD AT THE KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE (KICC), NAIROBI, KENYA ON TUESDAY, 15 DECEMBER, AT 3 P.M.
Chairperson: Her Excellency Dr Amina C. Mohamed (Kenya)
Subjects discussed:
1 OPENING SESSION ...... 1 1.1 Adoption of the Agenda ...... 3 1.2 Statement on the Organization of Work ...... 3
1 OPENING SESSION
1.1. The Chairperson delivered her welcoming remarks (WT/MIN(15)/22).
1.2. The Director-General then delivered his welcoming remarks (WT/MIN(15)/20).
1.3. The Right Honourable Prime Minister of Uganda, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, representing H.E. President Yoweri Museveni welcomed everyone to Africa in general and East Africa in particular, and to the Tenth Session of the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference. It was the first time the Conference was held in the African continent. He congratulated H.E. President Kenyatta and the People of the Republic of Kenya on being the first African country to host the WTO Ministerial Conference.
1.4. He also congratulated the WTO membership on its Twentieth Anniversary – a significant milestone that everyone could be proud of. Africa had been looking forward to such an occasion when all Members would have the opportunity to discuss matters that affected the continent the most and matters that were so dear to Africans. He was glad that the opportunity had come at a time when the organization was celebrating its Twentieth Anniversary.
1.5. Africa had about fourteen per cent of the world's population. The population below the poverty line in Africa accounted for 12.7% of the total world population. As such, the majority of least-developed countries in the world and the WTO were from the African continent. Africa continued to expand its energies to get out of that situation and there was no doubt that trade would play a leading role in that quest, as trade derived development. Africa was a continent of hope, promise and potential. Through fair trade rules it would be able to lift millions of its citizens out of poverty.
1.6. Africa remained active an participant in the Doha Development round of negotiations since it had been launched fifteen years before and was optimistic that the development promise of the round could be delivered during the Ministerial Conference. He was aware that estimates indicated that the conclusion of the Doha Development round would lead to an increase in world exports in excess of 360 billion USD per annum. All Members – developed countries, developing countries and least-developed countries – would benefit from the increase in exports in different proportions. WT/MIN(15)/SR/1
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It was therefore pertinent that Members worked towards concluding the round of negotiations as had originally been envisaged so that they would not keep those benefits out of their reach any longer. He wished everyone fruitful deliberations.
1.7. The Secretary-General of UNCTAD, H.E. Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, representing the United Nations Secretary-General, expressed the United Nations' appreciation to the Government and the People of Kenya for hosting the important watershed meeting in a series of WTO Ministerial meetings. The Secretary-General of the United Nations would have wanted to be in the session but the events following the successful round of negotiations in COP 21 in Paris had made it impossible for him to be present. He had asked him to convey a message not just of encouragement but also of hope.
1.8. He recalled that, in the year 2000, the world had embarked upon an inclusive agenda which called the Millennium Development Goals. The different instruments of solidarity could drastically reduce at least by 50% the prevalence of extreme poverty in the world. A year later, the WTO in the city of Doha had set out to make trade contribute in its way to the pursuit of inclusive prosperity by the reduction of extreme poverty.
1.9. Two months ago in New York, the world had harvested the progress on the MDGs and had launched the Agenda 2030 with a clarion call to banish extreme poverty within fifteen years. In Addis Ababa in July 2015, the Financing for Development Conference had pledged the financial pillar for achieving that ambition. On 25 September in New York, the political and social community had pledged their commitment for making their contribution to the inclusive agenda. A week ago in Paris, the environmental and climate change community had not only reached but had surpassed the targets that they had set for themselves to contribute to the revival of multilateralism and inclusive prosperity for all in their lifetime.
1.10. In Nairobi, the WTO Ministerial Conference was the first international meeting after the completion of the trilogy of meetings where not only could Members show fidelity to the collective multilateral spirit that was sweeping the world, but they also had an opportunity to say that the trade community was ready to contribute to the banishing of extreme poverty in the world. It was in their hands. It was a historic opportunity in a developing country and the United Nations would be there to celebrate with them.
1.11. The President of the Republic of Liberia, H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was deeply honoured to join President Kenyatta on that historic occasion marking the opening of the Tenth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization – the first in their continent. It was a testament to his leadership and the role that Kenya continued to play as an economic power driving innovations of transformation that could improve the lives of his people. She thanked him, his government and the People of Kenya for their warm reception. She extended her gratitude to him for the particular distinction of the honour bestowed on her in admitting her to the Chief of the Order of Golden Hearts of Kenya.
1.12. The following day would mark a historic milestone in Liberia's joining of transformation. As Liberia was accepted into the World Trade Organization family, it was optimistic that the Ministerial Conference was poised to impact global trade, to strengthen the rule-based multilateral trading system, to ensure that the less developed nations of the world were given a better deal by removal of barriers which would foster a larger percentage of global trade. As such, in the same way the world could celebrate a turning point in driving the global climate change commitments concluded in Paris, she looked forward to celebrating with the WTO Membership a Nairobi Outcome that fostered fairer, more equitable trade for the prosperity of all people.
1.13. She congratulated the WTO for the immense contributions it had made over the last twenty years to ensure that the rules-based multilateral trading system evolved with the ever growing complexities of the world. In the following days, Members could play a role in contributing to a world, to an Africa and to a WTO they all wanted. She looked forward to having a Nairobi Declaration and wished everyone success in all their deliberations.
1.14. The President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta, then addressed the Ministerial Conference (WT/MIN(15)/28).
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1.15. The President of Kenya marked the Opening of the Ministerial Conference by sounding the drums. He was then escorted from the room, together with H.E. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the Right Honourable Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, by the Director-General and the Chairperson. The Chairperson and the Director-General then returned to the room.
1.16. The Chairperson then delivered an address (WT/MIN(15)/23).
1.17. The Director-General then delivered an address (WT/MIN(15)/20).
1.18. The Chairman of the General Council and Permanent Representative of Mexico to the WTO, H.E. Mr Fernando de Mateo, then delivered an address (WT/MIN(15)/21).
1.19. The Chairperson thanked the General Council Chairman for the work he had done in Geneva and for transmitting three texts to the Ministerial Conference for final decision. She extended her gratitude to three Vice-Chairpersons of the Ministerial Conference who would assist her during the following days: H.E. Mr Gregorio Domingo, Secretary of Trade and Industry of the Philippines; H.E. Mr Alexander Mora, Minister of Foreign Trade of Costa Rica; and H.E. Mr Carlo Calenda, Member of Italian Cabinet of Ministers, in charge of Trade and Investment of Italy. She also thanked the former Chairman of the General Council, Ambassador Jonathan Fried (Canada) for the excellent work he had done on ensuring that the process that led to the acceptance of Nairobi as the host for the WTO would be carried out with dignity and in a manner that had pleased all Members that had participated in the process.
1.1 Adoption of the Agenda
1.20. The Chairperson drew attention to the Provisional Agenda for the Ministerial Conference in document WT/MIN(15)/W/1. She noted that the texts that had been discussed in Geneva in the MC10 preparatory period, the draft text of the Ministerial Declaration and all Members' proposals remained on the table for Ministers' consideration and could be taken up under Item 2 of the Agenda "Action by Ministers". She informed Members that, immediately after the Opening Session and after a short break to allow Observers, representatives of the press, of the NGOs, and other guests to leave the room, she and the Director-General would hold an Informal briefing session for Ministers of WTO Members and Observer Governments only on the process ahead. She then proposed that the Agenda be adopted.
1.21. The Ministerial Conference adopted the following agenda as proposed in WT/MIN(15)/W/1:
1. Overview of Activities of the WTO
2. Action by Ministers
3. Date and Venue of the Eleventh Session
4. Election of Officers
1.2 Statement on the Organization of Work
1.22. The Chairperson drew attention to the Overall Programme for the Ministerial Conference in document WT/MIN(15)/INF/16/REV.1. The Plenary Session would commence the following day at 9.30 a.m. with General Statements under Item 1 of the Agenda. The Plenary Session would then continue to receive General Statements through the following days of the Conference.
1.23. At 4.30 p.m. of the following day, the Ministerial Conference would take up the Accession of the Republic of Liberia under Agenda Item 2 – Action by Ministers. On Thursday, 17 December, at 4.30 p.m., they would take up the Accession of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, still under Agenda Item 2 – Action by Ministers.
1.24. Any other decisions or actions under Agenda Item 2 that the Ministerial Conference deemed necessary – as well as the other two items on the Agenda – would be taken up at the Closing Session of the Conference, which was scheduled at 12 noon on Friday 18 December.
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1.25. The Ministerial Conference took note of the statement.
1.26. The meeting adjourned at 5 p.m.
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