7 March 2013: Pascal Lamy, World Trade Organization (WTO) Director General, has highlighted the role of growth and trade in the post-2015 development agenda. Lamy was addressing a conference on “The Future of International Cooperation,” which was held on 7 March 2013, in the Hague, the Netherlands.

He said smaller countries and small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) can enter the global trade scene by participating in value chains, which is why the WTO’s 4th Global Review of Aid for Trade (AfT), in July 2013, will focus on supporting developing countries to connect to value chains. Lamy also noted the need to recognize new global actors – including emerging countries, the private sector and philanthropic organizations – as partners for growth in a post-2015 world.

Regarding the post-2015 development agenda, he asserted the need for: convergence towards a common “destination”; allowing for varying “pace and rhythm of getting there,” and special efforts for the poorest. He said learning from the past is key to achieving the goals that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) could not reach, in particular reducing inequality and extreme poverty.

The conference was organized by the Society for International Development (SID) Netherlands. [WTO Press Release] [Conference Website]