Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
This November 15 webinar discussed “Global Value Chains for Least Developed Countries” (GVCs for LDCs), a recent initiative aimed at supporting Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in their efforts to achieve sustainable development. The initiative was recently proposed in an Open Letter to the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The initiative was discussed by the authors of the letter—Gary Gereffi (Professor Emeritus and Director Global Value Chains Center, Duke University), Ari Van Assche (HEC Montréal, Canada), and Stephanie Barrientos (University of Manchester, UK)—and a distinguished panel featuring WTO Deputy Director-General Anabel Gonzáles, Chad Ambassador H.E. Ahmad Makaila (LDCs coordinator), and Dr. Mustafizur Rahman (Centre for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh.)
The webinar comes right before WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) on Nov 30-Dec 3, 2021 and just a few months before the United Nations’ 5th Conference on LDCs (LDC5) in January 2022, decisive for shaping the Programme of Action for LDCs in the Decade 2022-2031. Ensuring the inclusion of concrete new initiatives in the Programme of Action is crucial to provide LDCs with real support to overcome structural challenges, eradicate poverty, achieve internationally agreed development goals and enable graduation from the LDC category.
The event was organized by the Duke Center for International and Global Studies, Rethinking Diplomacy Program.
Read the Open Letter: https://igs.duke.edu/news/global-value-chains-least-developed-countries-letter-wto-ngozi-okonjo-iweala
This November 15 webinar discussed “Global Value Chains for Least Developed Countries” (GVCs for LDCs), a recent initiative aimed at supporting Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in their efforts to achieve sustainable development. The initiative was recently proposed in an Open Letter to the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The initiative was discussed by the authors of the letter—Gary Gereffi (Professor Emeritus and Director Global Value Chains Center, Duke University), Ari Van Assche (HEC Montréal, Canada), and Stephanie Barrientos (University of Manchester, UK)—and a distinguished panel featuring WTO Deputy Director-General Anabel Gonzáles, Chad Ambassador H.E. Ahmad Makaila (LDCs coordinator), and Dr. Mustafizur Rahman (Centre for Policy Dialogue, Bangladesh.)
The webinar comes right before WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) on Nov 30-Dec 3, 2021 and just a few months before the United Nations’ 5th Conference on LDCs (LDC5) in January 2022, decisive for shaping the Programme of Action for LDCs in the Decade 2022-2031. Ensuring the inclusion of concrete new initiatives in the Programme of Action is crucial to provide LDCs with real support to overcome structural challenges, eradicate poverty, achieve internationally agreed development goals and enable graduation from the LDC category.
The event was organized by the Duke Center for International and Global Studies, Rethinking Diplomacy Program.
Read the Open Letter: https://igs.duke.edu/news/global-value-chains-least-developed-countries-letter-wto-ngozi-okonjo-iweala
