Both Botswana and Cape Verde became members of the WTO shortly after the UN General Assembly had taken note of their recommendation for graduation. The experience of Cape Verde, however, might be useful to the Maldives, as it set some precedents regarding the extension of preferential market access after LDC graduation. In its Resolution 52/209 of December 2004 the General Assembly also requested WTO members to consider granting graduated LDCs an extension of the preferential treatments and exemptions conferred to them under the LDC status over a period appropriate to the development situation of the particular country. The upcoming LDC-IV Conference will provide a forum for the discussion of challenges and recommendations regarding phase-out periods and strategies for special support measures. Established as part of the mandates approved in WTO's first Ministerial Conference in 1996, the IF aims at building capacity among LDCs on trade-related issues, to better enable these countries in their response to trade opportunities and their participation in the multilateral trade system.