Roberto
Azevêdo
Director-General
15 November 2018
Dear
Ambassadors/Permanent Representatives,
I am enclosing the latest version of
the Evolving Table on Cotton Development Assistance (WT/CFMC/6/Rev.25) for
review by Members in advance of the next Round of the Director‑General's
Consultative Framework Mechanism on Cotton (DGCFMC).
This updated version of the Evolving
Table (ET) contains new contributions from Brazil, Canada, the EU, Germany,
India, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and the United States, as well as
from the CFC, FAO, ITC, UNCTAD and the World Bank. Also 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 this 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 increased to 29. As regards Part II ("Agriculture
and Infrastructure-Related Development Assistance"), the total number of
projects has risen to 55 with an increase in disbursed amounts.
The following can be highlighted with
regards to project commitments and disbursements in this latest version of the ET:
·
Part I on Active Cotton-Specific Development Assistance Projects shows
an increase in the number of projects
(from 26 to 29 in total), and stability in the number of African and other beneficiaries
(32 in total). The total value of committed amounts has increased and now totals
US$238.2 million, with disbursements increasing to 106.1 million. The ratio of
total disbursements to total commitments stands at 44.5%.
·
Part II on Active Agriculture and Infrastructure-Related Development Assistance
Projects also registers an increase in the total number of projects (from
48 to 55 in total). The total value of committed amounts increased to US$3.56 billion, with
disbursements increasing to US$1.19 billion. These increases are due to (i) the
inclusion of new projects and (ii) the adjustment of committed amounts and
disbursements for some projects. This upward revision is a sign of transparency
and effective monitoring.
. /.
Updates to
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, Mali and Mozambique. I strongly
encourage other beneficiaries to share updates under Part III.
I am also attaching the 17th
version of the Table on Domestic Cotton Sector Reforms (WT/CFMC/21/Rev.16),
reflecting new contributions from Burkina Faso.
The 30th Round of the
DGCFMC will be held on 29 November 2018. The tenth Dedicated Discussion of
the Relevant Trade-related Developments on Cotton, chaired by Ambassador John Deep
Ford, will take place the day before, on 28 November 2018.
The enclosed documents will form the
basis for the 30th Round of Consultations of the DGCFMC, which will
be chaired by DDG Alan Wm. Wolff on my behalf.
Yours
sincerely,
Roberto
Azevêdo