Lamy's remarks at opening session of Aid for Trade Conference

21 Sep '07

3 min read

To meet the challenges of development and participation in the trading system, the focus should be on countries' own visions, financing and the role of the private sector, WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy told an aid-for-trade conference in Manila on 19 September 2007. This is what he said:

Welcome to this first regional review of Aid for Trade for Asia and the Pacific. First, I want to thank our partner in this event, the Asian Development Bank. President Kuroda and his team have done the heavy lifting in terms of preparations and organization — and the superb result comes as no surprise to anyone familiar with the focus, energy and professionalism of this institution.

I also want to thank our host, the Philippines Government, which has been an enthusiastic supporter of this concept since I first discussed it with President Aroya in April. It is entirely fitting that we are holding this event in one of the more dynamic countries in what is easily the most dynamic region of the world economy. China, India and other Asian powerhouses have offered a new model — and a new inspiration — to the developing world.

One which harnesses globalization — through trade and integration — to provide an unprecedented engine for growth, rising living standards and poverty reduction. Part of our challenge over the next day and a half is to learn from Asia's success, and share the lessons.

This meeting has one purpose: helping countries in Asia and the Pacific build the capacity they need to take advantage of trade. It is part of a global initiative — launched at the WTO's 2005 Hong Kong Ministerial Conference — to scale up international financial assistance for trade capacity building in developing countries.

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