  
  
WT/MIN(2 2)/ST/117 
12 June 2022 
(22-4557) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth  Session  
Geneva, 12-15 June  2022  Original:  French  
 
  
STATEMENT BY H .E. M R EDGARD RAZAFINDRAVAHY  
MINIST ER OF INDUSTRIALIZATION, TRADE AND CONSUMPTION  
MADAGASCAR  
It is a privilege and great honour for me to have this opportunity, on behalf of the Government of 
the Republic of Madagascar, to address this distinguished gathering at the Twelfth Session of the 
Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization.  
 
First of all , I wish to join prece ding speakers in congratulating you, Your Excellency 
Mr  Timur  Suleimenov, and through you, all your colleagues in the Government , for the organization 
of this Twelfth WTO Ministerial Conference under your able guidance. On behalf of the Malagasy  
delegation and on my own behalf, I thank the Government of Kazakhstan and the people of 
Switzerland for the warm welcome and hospitality that we have received since we arrived in this 
beautiful country.  
 
I wish to reiterate here our congratulations to our Director -General, Ms Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala, the 
first African woman to obtain this prestig ious post, for her appointment, and for her commitment to 
building a WTO that is stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today and to the 
recovery of our economies.  
 
My delegation endorses the statements by the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the 
African Group, the ACP Group, the G33 and the G90.  
 
The world is currently undergoing changes. Time and history are moving in an unprecedented 
manner and are presenting us with challenges  that we must overcome. We have not yet emerged  
from the shadow of the COVID -19 pandemic and already we are facing new security and food risks. 
The question is how we can act to ensure that the WTO, through its various functions, can expedite 
the integration of developing countries, including LDCs, int o the global economy.  
 
The pandemic has clearly demonstrated the need for the world to be united, to engage in dialogue 
and, above all, to have forums in which to move forward with discussions. This has proven the 
importance of having a strengthened multil ateral trading system capable of fully assuming its roles.  
 
We thank Members for all the constructive  discussions held thus far on vaccines and therapies, which 
have enabled the populations  of our countries  in particular , to access vaccines, and to save lives and 
economies. I also wish to thank Members for bolstering the di alogue  on services, not only on tourism 
and transport, which were  impacted by the pandemic, but also on the digital sector, including  the 
new valued -added sector of e -commerce, in which we can position ourselves without excessive ly 
disrupti ng the di scussions . I also thank Members for strengthening the equally important discussions 
on fisheries subsidies and environmental sustainability, which address the Sustainable Development 
Goals.  
 
As a predominantly agricultural country, Madagascar accords special importance to the progress of 
the negotiations on agriculture , special and differential treatment , and all means of securing jobs 
and ensuring the sustainab le development  of the vanilla sector, which is the main source of income 
for the country.  
 
It is therefore appropriate to mention the case of the Madagascar vanilla sector, to which I attach 
great importance. The vanilla industry, which is more than just a source of pride, is a highly strategic WT/MIN(2 2)/ST/117 
- 2 - 
  sector and a major magnet for foreign currency for Madagascar. My country is the m ain exporter of 
vanilla in the world. Our product is renowned for its for its flavour, taste and high vanillin  content . 
Natural vanilla from Madagascar generates income for all stakeholders, at the various different 
stages from plantation to export ation itself, and for all those who depend on the sector indirectly.  
As the global market is expanding, I would like to take this opportunity to make a case for vanilla 
from Madagascar . I urge importing Member countries to support this sector by buying natural van illa 
at the price corresponding to its quality. I call for the full operationalization of the Decisions on  
duty-free, quota -free market access, and on preferential rules of origin for LDCs, in order to improve 
market access for LDC products . 
 
Furthermore, Madagascar has many resources and products to offer. In order to fulfil the visions 
and promises of His Excellency the President of the Republic,  Velirano  (presidential promise) No. 7 
on the industrialization of Madagascar and Velirano  No. 9 on  food self -sufficiency, the Ministry will  
set up small and medium -sized processing units.  The emergenc e plan advocates and sets as an 
objective the industrialization of the country  in order  to ensure its economic development. My 
department is currently working  towards the establishment and promotion of industrial incubator 
areas  known as ''taninketsa indostrialy '' in order to revalorize local industry. This project will be 
implemented in all regions of the country and has already started with the production of edible oil 
and sugar. The next step will be the creation  of other infrastructure to develop local resources and 
improve the living standards of the population. Processed products will be  sold on local markets and 
will potentially be made available for export.  
 
Regarding the negotiations at the WTO , some LDCs still do not have access to the multilateral trading 
system.  I would like to insist on the need to facilitate their accession in order to enable them to 
participate in trade.  
 
I take this opportunity to thank the donor countries in the Enhanced Integrated Framework, the only 
Aid-for-Trade initiative designed for LDCs , and further call on other countries to provide more 
support for this mechanism during and after this Conference, given its importance for economic 
recovery.  
 
Distinguished Ministers  and dear Delegates, more than ever before, the whole world has high 
expectations of our Organization. My delegation advocates the strengthening  of the rules -based 
multilateral trading system that is the WTO, and supports all related efforts and a ll discussions on 
the reform of the Organization .  
 
I hope that our Members will demonstrate mutual tolerance to ensure the success of t his Ministerial 
Conference and to achieve consensus on the development dimensions of the negotiating topics, and 
that a document reflecting the aspirations of all Members will be produced and will serve as a 
foundation for  the post-Geneva negotiations.  
 
__________  