181. Let me begin, on behalf of the Haitian delegation, by thanking the WTO Secretariat for organizing this important Workshop. My delegation would like to commend the efforts of developed country Members for providing general assistance in the area of technology transfer to LDCs through their various technical assistance programmes aimed at LDCs.
182. However, in line with the implementation of Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement on incentives for technology transfer to LDCs, my delegation would encourage other developed country Members to fulfil their commitments to these small economies, with a view to helping them reduce the existing gaps between developed country Members and LDCs in the area of technology. Today, the issue of technology transfer is of paramount importance to developing countries, in particular LDCs. The issue is also cross-cutting, insofar as it relates to other areas, including security, infrastructure, renewable energy, climate change, agriculture, health, education and e-commerce.
183. My delegation aligns itself with the statement delivered by the LDC Group to follow up on the TRIPS Agreement, and more specifically Article 66.2, relating to technology transfer concerns. We would also like to point out that LDCs are still waiting for the implementation of certain provisions, which has yet to take place since the Agreement was concluded.
184. My delegation would also like to stress the importance of technology transfer in addressing illegal immigration and employment-related challenges faced by both developing and developed countries alike. We would also like to take this opportunity to draw Members' attention to the current lack of security in the country, which is having detrimental consequences across all areas because it threatens the very existence of the country's rights, including industrial and intellectual property rights. This situation should have been acknowledged some time ago. The field of intellectual property faces many challenges. Industrial property as a whole poses a major obstacle to economic development, and patent law, which dates back over a hundred years, does not reflect present-day realities and opportunities in the field of intellectual property.
185. Given the situation, the Haitian delegation would also like to draw the attention of developed country Members to the cross-cutting role of technology transfer in peacekeeping, treating diseases and developing the country's economic and industrial sector. In accordance with Article 66.2, the Haitian delegation would like developed country Members to pay considerable attention to Haiti in relation to these issues.
