Director-General Roberto Azevêdo met yesterday (4 October) with the WTO’s Africa Group to discuss preparations for the organization’s 11th Ministerial Conference (MC11) which will be held in Buenos Aires, 10-13 December.

The Director-General listened to the views expressed by members of the Africa Group and said that the contribution of Africa would be vital to a successful outcome in Buenos Aires.

"The African Group is a very important constituency of the WTO. African members make up more than a quarter of the total membership. And over recent years, these members have been increasingly central in the WTO's work. Africa's constructive engagement was instrumental in the successes of Bali and Nairobi, for the entry into force of the TRIPS amendment – and much else besides. I hope that you will be ready to play a similar role in helping to shape the Buenos Aires outcomes," the Director-General said.