From March 25 to 29, Yaounde, Cameroon hosted the 14th Ministerial Conference of the Geneva-based World Trade Organization (WTO). As part of the event, Mongolia took the lead in organizing and chairing a dedicated Ministerial Conference for 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) on March 25.
The session was opened by D.Gerelmaa, Permanent Representative of Mongolia to the United Nations in Geneva and the WTO, who also serves as Coordinator of the Geneva Group of LLDCs. Ambassador D.Gerelmaa highlighted the importance of close collaboration between the WTO, other international organizations, and member states to address trade barriers commonly faced by LLDCs. She stressed the need to facilitate their integration into international trade, investment, and digital transformation initiatives, as well as the implementation of the Avaza Programme of Action for LLDCs (2024–2034).
Key international officials also participated in the meeting, including Zhang Xiangchen, Deputy Director-General of the WTO, P.M. Moreno, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, E. Oliveira Gomez, Director-General of the International Trade Center’s Regional Development Programme; Jamie Macleod, Economic Adviser to the UN High Commissioner for LLDCs and Small Island Developing States; and D.Dulguun, Executive Director of the International Center for the Study of Landlocked Developing Countries.
Representatives from 25 of the 32 LLDCs attended, including ministers, deputy ministers, and permanent representatives. Delegations presented their perspectives on strengthening collaboration to protect the interests of landlocked developing countries, ensuring a unified voice within the WTO, promoting trade and investment, implementing programs to build human resource capacity, and receiving research and technical support from the WTO in key areas.
The conference concluded with the approval of a Joint Declaration by the participating ministers. This declaration has been submitted to the WTO Secretariat to be included in the final document of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, reflecting the collective commitment of LLDCs to deeper cooperation and strategic integration into the global economy.
