Roberto Azevêdo

                Director-General                                     

8 June 2018

Dear Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives,

        I am enclosing the latest version of the Evolving Table on Cotton Development Assistance (WT/CFMC/6/Rev.24) for review by Members in advance of the next Round of the Director‑General's Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton (DGCFMC). 

        The updated version of the Evolving Table (ET) contains new contributions from Brazil, Canada, Colombia, the EU, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States, as well as from the CFC, ITC, UNCTAD and the World Bank. Of particular significance is the support and contributions from Brazil, China, India and Pakistan on the platform of South-South Co‑operation.

I am pleased to report that the figures in the latest version of the ET show that project turnover has continued, thus ensuring a steady level of cotton-specific development assistance. The total number and value of projects listed in Part I ("Cotton Specific Development Assistance") has remained stable, while the ratio of disbursements to commitments has decreased, due to the inclusion of three new projects and the completion of several projects. As regards Part II ("Agriculture and Infrastructure-Related Development Assistance"), there has been a significant decrease in the total number and value of projects, due to the deletion of former incorrectly notified projects and the completion of several other projects.  

The following can be highlighted with regards to project commitments and disbursements in the latest version of the ET: 

·                Part I on Active Cotton-Specific Development Assistance Projects shows stability in both the number of African and other beneficiaries (31 in total) and that of active projects (26 in total). The total value of committed amounts has increased to US$204.2 million. Disbursements decreased slightly, to US$96.7 million, with the ratio of total disbursements to total commitments decreasing to 47%.

·                Part II on Active Agriculture and Infrastructure-Related Development Assistance Projects registers a decrease in the total number of projects (down to 48 from 63 previously). Consequently, the total value of commitments decreased to US$2.8 billion, with disbursement flows decreasing to US$976 million. These decreases are due to (i) the completion of a several projects and (ii) the deletion of projects which had been incorrectly notified under Part II. This downward revision is a sign of transparency and effective monitoring. 

        . /.

Updates on Part III of the Evolving Table, which contains the coordinates of national cotton sector focal points established by assistance beneficiaries, have been received from Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali. I strongly encourage other beneficiaries to share updates on Part III.

I am also attaching the 16^th version of the Table on Domestic Cotton Sector Reforms (WT/CFMC/21/Rev.15), reflecting new contributions from Burkina Faso. 

The 29^th Round of the DGCFMC will be held in the morning of 19 June 2018. The ninth Dedicated Discussion of the Relevant Trade-related Developments on Cotton, chaired by Ambassador John Ford, will take place, back-to-back with the 29^th Round, in the afternoon of the same day.

The enclosed documents will form the basis for the 29^th Round of Consultations of the Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton, which will be chaired by DDG Alan Wm. Wolff on my behalf.

Yours sincerely,

Roberto Azevêdo