Brussels, 16 October 2015/ ACP: Ministers of trade and senior officials from African, Caribbean and Pacific countries will gather in Brussels on 19-21 October for a strategic two-day meeting to prepare for the 10th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation, to be held in Narobi, Kenya on 15-18 December 2015.

Under the chairmanship of the Minister for Trade and Industry of Lesotho Hon. Joshua Setipa, the ACP ministers are expected to adopt a Declaration on the Tenth WTO Ministerial Conference, as well as a strategy for ACP participation at the conference. Key issues of concern for the ACP Group include those related to development, agriculture, Non-Agricultural Goods Market Access (NAMA), and appropriate provisions for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small and Vulnerable Economies (SVEs).

ACP Ministers will also hold discussions with European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, Director General of the World Trade Organisation Roberto Azevêdo, and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Kenya Amb. Amina Mohamed.

"This being the first WTO Ministerial Conference to be held in an ACP member state, the ACP Group attaches great importance to the Conference and is committed to do all it can to ensure a successful outcome," said ACP Secretary General Dr. Patrick Gomes.

The ACP trade ministers' meeting will be preceded by a meeting of senior trade officials, including the Geneva-based Ambassadors of ACP countries, most of whom have responsibilities of coordination and focal points for various key WTO subjects.

The ACP Group of States has among its membership 61 countries that are WTO members, 7 observers and 11 that are neither members nor observers. The ACP Group is an active participant and key player in the WTO, as was evident previous Ministerial Conferences, where the Group's participation has immensely contributed to the outcomes of the meetings.

The WTO Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body and usually meets every two years. The Ministerial Conference can take decisions on all matters under any of the multilateral trade agreements. The previous, Ninth WTO Ministerial Conference was held in Bali, Indonesia in 2013.