Mr. Chairman,

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the Group of the G77 and China on agenda item 132, on the proposed programme budget for Section 12, International Trade Centre UNCTAD/WTO.

2. The Group of 77 and China would like to thank the Assistant-Secretary-General, Controller, Mr. Jun Yamazaki, for the introduction of the relevant report under this agenda item. The Group would also like to thank the Vice-Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, Mr. Collen Kelapile, for introducing the related report of the Committee.

Mr. Chairman,

3. The Group of 77 and China wishes to express its appreciation and strong support for the work of the International Trade Centre (ITC) as the joint technical cooperation agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization for business aspects of trade development.

4. The Group stresses the importance of trade as a major contributor to development and the corresponding need for trade-related capacity-building activities, as recognized by the outcomes of different United Nations summits. The ITC provides much needed technical cooperation to increase trade and export potential of small and medium-sized businesses in developing countries, which has a positive impact on employment and poverty reduction, and contributes to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

5. The recent financial and economic crisis has increased the urgency of additional investments in trade-related capacity-building. The Group is concerned that exports from developing countries, in particular from the least developed countries, to the main markets have declined dramatically during the recent financial and economic crisis. The enhancement of trade capacity, and further investments in this area, are of fundamental importance to allow many developing countries to exit the crisis. In this regard, we emphasize the need for the ITC to place additional efforts in its support to least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, as well as to the African countries.

Mr. Chairman,

6. The Group of 77 and China recalls that the report of the Secretary-General on the strengthening of the development pillar, submitted to Member States in 2008, did not contain proposals on increasing the capacity of the International Trade Center. The proposal for new posts contained in the report just introduced is a timely attempt to bridge this gap and to provide the additional capacity needed for this important function.

7. In this connection, the Group will seek further clarifications during informal consultations on the reasons why the original estimates for 19 posts, as contained in the report A/64/6 (Section 13), were reduced to only 12 in the Addendum document. We will also seek additional information on the responsibilities of the Executive Direction of the ITC with a view to ensure that the level of posts are commensurate with its increasing responsibilities.

8. In conclusion, the Group wishes to reiterate its strong support to the International Trade Centre and its full commitment to the strengthening of its important functions.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.