WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/COMTD/LDC/W/13
24 February 1999
(99-0695)
Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries
THIRD PROGRESS REPORT ON THE FOLLOW-UP
TO THE HIGH-LEVEL MEETING
This note provides information on progress made in the follow-up to the High Level Meeting
on Integrated Initiatives for Least-developed Counties' Trade Development since the Director-General's report to the Ministerial Conference of May 1998, circulated in document WT/MIN(98)/2,
and the last Progress Report circulated in document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/12.  Attention is drawn to
the Integrated Framework website on http:\\www.ldcs.org, which provides regular updates on the
operation of the Integrated Framework for Trade-related technical Assistance to LDCs.
In this document, an attempt has been made in Part I to make an assessment of the present
state of play under the Integrated Framework, describe progress and any obstacles to progress
perceived.  The resulting section is therefore more comprehensive than previous reports and attempts
both to brief delegations on progress made and to identify areas where there is still room for
improvement.  Part II summaries recent progress in market access and trade opportunities offered byMembers to LDCs, while Part III relates to the thematic roundtables of the High-Level Meeting.
I. INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK FOR TRADE-RELATED TECHNICAL
ASSISTANCE TO LEAST-DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
A. I
NTRODUCTION
1. The Integrated Framework is a mechanism to coordinate trade-related technical assistance to
the least-developed countries (all 48, as designated by the United Nations).  It was adopted in October
1997 by the High-Level Meeting on Integrated Initiatives for Least-Developed Countries' Trade
Development, held at WTO and organized by IMF, ITC, UNCTAD, UNDP, World Bank and WTO.
It aims to ensure that technical assistance activities are demand-driven and that the process is "owned"
by the least-developed countries.  By coordinating the activities of the six agencies involved, it seeksto increase the benefits that least-developed countries derive from the trade-related technical
assistance available to them from these agencies, as well as from other multilateral, regional and
bilateral sources, with a view to assisting them  to enhance their trade opportunities, to respond to
market demands, and to become more closely integrated into the multilateral trading system.
B. T
HE MECHANISM
(a) Needs Assessments
2. The first step in the process stems from demands for trade-related technical assistance from
individual least-developed countries.  These demands  are identified in "Needs Assessments", drawn
up by the countries concerned.  The Ministry  responsible for international trade issues is usually thelead Ministry but when drawing up the Needs Assessment, the countries concerned are encouraged to
involve all relevant actors, such as other Ministries as well as the private sector.  Taking these Needs
Assessments as a basis, the six agencies then formulate a coordinated response specifying the trade-WT/COMTD/LDC/W/13
Page 2
related technical assistance activities which each organization individually, but in coordination with
the other five, is in a position to provide in line  with its own expertise, comparative advantage and
available resources.  This response is discussed and agreed with the least-developed country
concerned.  So far 40 least-developed countries have expressed an interest in the process by
submitting a completed Needs Assessment;  and coordinated responses have been completed for39 least-developed countries, while number 40 is under preparation. The results have been published
in WTO's document series WT/COMTD/IF/-.  They are also available on the Integrated Framework
web site.
(b) Trade-Related Donor Meetings ("Round tables")
3. The next phase in the process is for the least-developed countries to broaden the exercise so
that they can seek support that goes beyond what the six agencies can already make available to meettheir needs for trade-related technical assistance and cooperation.  It involves each least-developed
country, along with its multilateral, regional and bilateral development partners, reviewing its needs
assessment for trade-related technical assistance and preparing a concrete programme of technical
assistance to meet those needs.  This exercise  should culminate in a trade-related donor meeting
scheduled by the least-developed country.  This meeting is intended to provide the opportunity fordonors to endorse a multi-year programme of trade-related technical assistance activities.  The donor
meeting is seen as a necessary instrument to achieve the concrete programme of trade-related
technical assistance.
4. For a donor meeting to be successful,  coordinated efforts are needed from  the various
segments of the administration of the least-developed country concerned, in collaboration with itsprivate sector; of the six agencies involved; and of the various segments of the administrations of the
other development partners.  The least-developed country may ask for assistance from a local advisor
and/or the six agencies to assist it in organizing such roundtables, having due regard to the objective
of capacity building in the local administration.
C. W
HAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR
5. Twenty-one countries have so far expressed an interest in calling for a trade-related donor
meeting and have requested assistance from one or more of the agencies (Angola, Bangladesh,
Bhutan, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chad, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Haiti,
Maldives, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Suda n, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia).  Of these
countries, however only Uganda so far has held such a meeting, in the context of its Consultative
Group meeting with the assistance of the World Bank in December 1998 in Kampala.  In light of the
comments made at that meeting by the donor community,  the Ugandan government will prioritise itsrequests for trade-related technical assistance furthe r, will strengthen the involvement of the private
sector and will revert to the Integrated Framew ork in a subsequent (trade-related) donor meeting,
which it intends to call.  This meeting should lead to a programme of focussed trade-related technical
assistance.
6. The Integrated Framework has led to a smooth-running Inter-Agency mechanism, the Inter-
Agency Working Group, which assumes responsibility for managing the programme of activities and
is chaired by WTO.  It has met at numerous occasions, at the HQs of the various agencies, most
recently at the IMF in Washington DC, in February 1999.  To handle the day-to-day work of, and to
service meetings, of the Inter-Agency Working Group, a small Administrative Unit has been
established, located at ITC.  This has been up and running since the middle of 1998.  WTOcontributes one full-time staff member to this Unit.WT/COMTD/LDC/W/13
Page 3
D. WHAT CONCRETE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HAS SO FAR BEEN PROVIDED , PRIOR TO TRADE -
RELATED ROUNDTABLES ?
7. Although the "trade-related donor meetings" are regarded as a necessary instrument to serve
as a means of consolidating integrated efforts by the various development partners as well as ensuring
necessary finance for the concrete programme of technical assistance, trade-related technicalassistance activities have continued to be carried out by the agencies under the Integrated Framework,
even pending the organization of such  "roundtable meetings".  By way of illustration, the following
activities have been carried out by the WTO under the Integrated Framework, some in collaboration
with other agencies.
WTO Activities
(i) National seminars
8. Since the High Level Meeting, WTO has organized 18 national seminars (Cambodia, Chad,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Equatorial Guinea, Haiti, Laos, Madagascar,
Malawi, Mauritania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Niger, Rwanda, Sudan and Zambia).  Of those,
three national seminars were undertaken with the participation of ITC (Chad, Madagascar andRwanda) and two with UNDP (Djibouti and Niger).
(ii) Regional seminars
9. One regional seminar for English-speaking African least-developed countries has taken place
in mid-June 1998 (in Zambia), with the participation of ITC.  Two other regional seminars,specifically for least-developed countries have been undertaken in Djibouti (for French-speaking
least-developed countries) and in Bangladesh (for Asian and Pacific least-developed countries), both
in 1998.
10. Seventeen regional seminars were held since the High-Level Meeting in which least-
developed countries' officials and representatives from the private sector and from academicinstitutions participated.  Four of these regional seminars on the multilateral trading system were
undertaken jointly with the World Bank (in  Senegal, Tanzania, Botswana, and Cameroon).  Thirteen
regional seminars focussed on specific subjects, in particular on services, dispute settlement, market
access, trade and environment, TBT,  and TRIPS.
(iii) Short trade policy course
11. A first "short trade policy course" for English-speaking least-developed countries was held in
Geneva in May 1998, and a second course was held for French-speaking least-developed countries in
Turin (Italy) in October 1998.
(iv) Technical missions
12. Sixteen technical missions were undertaken to assist individual least-developed countries in
their implementation of WTO obligations, with a view to enhancing their ability to participate in the
multilateral trading system. They concerned specifically notification obligations,  issues relating to the
adaptation of internal legislation to WTO disciplines, or assistance in accession to WTO (Members:
Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Haiti, Madagascar, Mauritania, Niger, Rwanda and
Uganda;  and non-Members: Ethiopia, Eq uatorial Guinea, Lao PDR and Vanuatu).WT/COMTD/LDC/W/13
Page 4
(v) Establishing modern data processing facilities
13. In response to requests for assistance to establish modern data processing facilities and
provide better communication and information links with the WTO, the Secretariat has begun a
programme to install computers and Internet links in the trade or commerce ministries of all LDCs.At the end of 1998, 34 least-developed countries had been provided with such "Reference Centres"
(27 Members and seven Observers).  In the course of 1999 it is foreseen that 38 least-developed
countries will have received Reference Centres (all 29 LDC Members plus nine Observers).
(vi) Other agencies' activities
14. The Inter-Agency Working Group, together with the Administrative Unit is in the process of
compiling information on the status of implementation of activities by the various agencies under theIntegrated Framework.  It is the intention to make this information public by putting it on the
Integrated Framework website by the end of March 1999.
(vii) Donor financing
15. A number of Members have generously contributed to the technical assistance activities of the
WTO, many of them mentioning specifically the least-developed countries as one of the potential
beneficiaries. (Hong Kong, the Netherlands, No rway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom,
United States).
E. WHAT DOES "INTEGRATION " MEAN UNDER THE INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK ?
16. The "integration" which the Integrated Framework attempts to achieve is shown through the
creation of synergies between the activities undertaken by each agency individually, or in
collaboration with other agencies, and the avoidance of overlap.  The Integrated Framework stipulates
that each of the six agencies shall be responsible for agreeing with the government of each least-
developed country concerned the specific modalities and exact timing of its trade-related technical
assistance activities.  Moreover, in terms of financing the projects, the Integrated Frameworkstipulates that each of the six agencies shall provide finance from its existing resources – or, as
necessary, shall seek additional finance with the active support of the least-developed country
concerned – for those trade-related technical assistance activities in  the country programmes for
which it is responsible.
17. An example of a joint programme of design and implementation of projects by three agencies
is JITAP (Joint Integrated Technical Assistance Programme ITC/UNCTAD/WTO in (eight) Selected
Least-Developed and Other African Countries).  JITAP has been subsumed under the IntegratedFramework in so far as it relates to the four le ast-developed countries(Benin, Burkina Faso, Tanzania,
Uganda) and for these countries represents a clear example of concrete joint technical assistance
activities undertaken by the three agencies.
18. An example of integrated action undertaken by the six agencies under the Integrated
Framework is the preparation of the provisional programmes for trade-related technical assistanceunder paragraph 5(d) of the Integrated Framework for 40 least-developed countries (the "integrated
responses").  More generally, clear lines of communication are maintained between the agencies and
they informally share information on missions undertaken under the Integrated Framework.  The
WTO has been involved in (the preparation of) trade-related roundtables, jointly with UNDP,
UNCTAD and the World Bank in three LDCs so fa r (Haiti, Sudan, Uganda).  Upon request by the
governments concerned, WTO also intervened in the UNDP Roundtable Meetings of The Gambia andWT/COMTD/LDC/W/13
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Chad in Geneva to place a marker for future work in these countries under the Integrated Framework1.
Furthermore,  at the same time as the Trade Policy Reviews of three least-developed countries (Mali,
Togo, Guinea), WTO organized informal consultations between each of them and the development
partners of their choice in the context of the Integrated Framework.  The main purpose of these
consultations was to draw the attention of possible donors to the Needs Assessments prepared bythese countries and any plans to organize trade-related roundtable meetings,  so that the donors might
alert their relevant authorities in their capitals a nd in the least-developed country concerned to assist
the Government of the least-developed country in preparing for such a roundtable meeting. Several
bilateral development partners participated in these consultations, upon the invitation of the country
concerned, as well as the core agencies.
Awareness Raising
19. The Integrated Framework is a process involving many different actors: the six agencies most
closely involved ( involving different sections within each of them, for some both at Headquarters and
in the field),  the least-developed countries and the other development partners (involving different
segments of their administrations, as well as the private sector).  Coordination is the basic ingredient
for its success and is not always easy.  One of the conditions ensuring  successful coordination isawareness raising and information sharing about the process of the Integrated Framework.  The six
agencies, and not least the Administrative Unit, are spending a considerable amount of time to raise
awareness about the Integrated Framework, its objectives and operations.  One of the results of this
exercise is that a number of other intergovernmental organizations have expressed an interest in
participating, if and when invited to do so by the least-developed countries.
20. As noted above, an Integrated Framework we b-site has been established (www.ldcs.org)
which serves as a tool for management, monitoring, information sharing, publicity and transparency.
A brochure explaining the Integrated Framework  has also been published.
21. It has also become standing practice to invite representatives of the other five agencies to
address the meetings of the WTO Sub-Committee on Least-Developed Countries on their role in theIntegrated Framework.  So far, ITC, the Administrative Unit of the Integrated Framework, UNCTAD,
the World Bank and the IMF have done so.
Obstacles to progress perceived: what can be done about them
22. As noted above, the success of the Integrated Framework depends to a great extent on
successful coordination between, and within, many actors.  First of all, it requires coordination
between the various stakeholders in the least-developed country.  Usually  the Ministry responsiblefor international trade is the lead agency in the exercise;  but  the Integrated Framework exercise
involves all agents involved in international tr ade, such as Ministries responsible for Economy,
Finance, Customs, Industry, Agriculture, etc., Banks, and, last but not least, the private sector.  For
their part, WTO's partners in the Integrated Framework, such as UNDP, the World Bank and the IMF,
as well as the bilateral development partners do not usually deal  directly with the Ministryresponsible for international trade.  This is why success of the Integrated Framework depends on
coordination between all these stakeholders within the least-developed country.  At the level of the
donor community, coordination between those responsible for trade policy and their colleagues
responsible for aid, including their missions in the countries is also an important ingredient for the
success of the Integrated Framework.
                                                     
1 These Round Table Meetings from part of the UNDP Round Table cycles, and are much wider in
scope than the trade-related roundtables under the Integrated Framework.  "Trade" is usually not a subject on the
agenda of these wider meetings.WT/COMTD/LDC/W/13
Page 6
23. Experience so far has taught us that the stak eholders in general are well aware of this and
make genuine attempts to establish effective coordination, inside the agencies, among the six
agencies, inside the least-developed countries and within the donor community.  However, there is
always room for improvements.  Moreover, based on the experience so far with the preparation for
trade-related donor meetings, it is clear that for least-developed countries even preparing for trade-related donor meetings is not an easy affair itself and requires assistance.  The six agencies stand
therefore ready to provide assistance to the LDCs in preparing for such meetings, both in terms of the
most effective process and documentation; they have recently streamlined such assistance.
24. In terms of the process, since success of trade-related donor meetings depends on the active
participation of all stakeholders in-country, the six agencies suggest to start off the preparations for a
donor meeting by the government (the lead Ministry) calling a "launching meeting" in the country.
To this "launching meeting" would be invited all potential interested stakeholders in the country, suchas the various Ministries, the private sector, bilateral donors, representatives of other
(regional/multilateral) development partners.  Somebody from one of the six agencies or the
Administrative unit would also participate in this meeting to explain the objectives, the results sought
and the process involved in the Integrated Framework and to clarify any matters.  It is felt that such a
meeting would assist the government to carry fo rward the process afterwards and to involve all
stakeholders from the outset.  As regards the documentation, the six agencies are currently finalizing
an outline of the type of information which could usefully be included in the documentation to be
prepared by the government for the donor meeting.  The possibility to request further assistance to
help the government prepare such documentation would of course remain, having due regard to the
objective of capacity building.  Both the outline for the documentation and the idea of organizing alaunching meeting would be options available to the government of the least developed country;  they
would serve only as recommendations and the governme nt would of course be free to use them or not.
The collaboration among the six agencies in providing collectively this type of assistance is a direct
and positive result of the integration process among them, prompted by the Integrated Framework.
II. MARKET ACCESS
25. Since the circulation of document WT/COMTD/LDC/W/12,  the delegations of Mauritius and
the United States have officially notified the Secretariat of further market access and trade
opportunities offered to the LDCs (docum ent WT/COMTD/W/53 and WT/COMTD/N/1/Add. 2
respectively).  Previous notifications had been received from Turkey (WT/COMTD/W/39), the
European Communities (WT/COMTD/W/41), Switzerland (WT/COMTD/W/44), Canada
(WT/COMTD/LDC/M/11, paragraph 16) and Egyp t (WT/COMTD/W/47 plus Add.1).  Following
consultations on the clarification of the WTO legal basis for preferences by developing countries in
favour of LDCs, a draft "umbrella" waiver from GATT Article I will be presented to the Committee
on Trade and Development for its consideration at its meeting planned for 2 March 1999. It is recalled
that the Director-General,  in his Report to Ministers in May of this year on the outcome and follow-
up to the High-Level Meeting,  had proposed that it would be appropriate to consider, in thepreparation of the third Ministerial Conference, including the objective of eliminating all tariff
barriers in favour of the least-developed countries as a  matter for implementation on a priority basis
in the negotiations which start in the year 2000.  It would be important not just for all advanced
economies, but also for the most dynamic developing countries, to subscribe to this objective and to
the principle of binding the liberalization under the WTO.WT/COMTD/LDC/W/13
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III. THEMATIC ROUND TABLES
26. The Secretariat continues its assistance to LDCs in their preparation for accession (there are
currently six LDCs in the process of accession) and in preparing for their Trade Policy Reviews.  It is
hereby recalled that Mali conducted its Trade Policy Review in November 1998.  At the same time as
its TPR,  it has held informal consultations in WTO with bilateral and multilateral developmentpartners of its choice in the context of the Integrated Framework.  TPRs for Togo and Guinea were
held in January and February 1999 and similar informal consultations have taken place.
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