The World Trade Organization (WTO) on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 indicated that Estonia has contributed EUR 20,000 (CHF 21,000) in 2020 to enhance the trading capacities of developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs).
According to the WTO, “this donation to the WTO’s DDA Global Trust Fund will finance training workshops for government officials to help them better understand and implement WTO agreements and improve their negotiating skill-set”.
Deputy Director-General Yonov Frederick Agah, who oversees development matters in the WTO, said, “this donation from Estonia is welcome support to the multilateral trading system. It will help government officials from developing and least-developed countries to gain an essential skill-set, which can enhance their participation in international trade and create opportunities for economic transformation.”
Estonia’s WTO Ambassador, Katrin Saarsalu-Layachi, said: “trade can play a key role in helping the global community recover from the COVID-19 crisis. Through our donation, we aim to enhance the capacity of developing countries and LDCs to effectively operate in and benefit from the WTO’s rules-based trading system.”
The WTO indicated that “over 2,800 activities have been organized since the fund was created in 2001.
“Overall, Estonia has donated approximately CHF 400,000 to the various WTO trust funds over nearly 20 years”.
Earlier donations made this year to the WTO’s DDA Global Trust Fund
In July this year, the government of Germany contributed EUR 150,000 (approximately CHF 160,000) to help developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) comply with international food safety, animal and plant health standards, with the aim of increasing their access to agricultural markets.
The then WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said; “with this new donation, Germany will help developing countries and LDCs expand their trading capacities, thereby laying the groundwork for their farmers to seize new trade opportunities. Germany’s sustained generosity is greatly appreciated.”
Germany’s Ambassador to the WTO, Michael Von Ungern-Sternberg, said; “through its capacity-building activities, the STDF helps to build an important bridge between consumers and the farmers in developing countries. We are pleased to be contributing to reducing poverty and increasing food and animal safety around the world.”
The WTO further indicated that Germany has donated CHF 2.7 million (approximately EUR 2.6 million) to this fund over 15 years.
Liechtenstein has also contributed CHF 40,000 in 2020 to assist developing countries and least-developed countries (LDCs) in enhancing their trading capacities. This donation, according to the WTO was meant to “finance training workshops and seminars supported by the WTO’s DDA Global Trust Fund, with the aim of improving the skill-set of government officials from across the world”.
Speaking about this donation, the former Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said; “Liechtenstein’s donation will help government officials from developing countries and LDCs deepen their understanding of trade issues and challenges, making them better equipped to help their countries integrate more fully into the global trading system. I welcome Liechtenstein’s sustained generosity.”
Liechtenstein’s WTO Ambassador, Peter Matt, said; “Liechtenstein is a staunch supporter of an inclusive and rules-based multilateral trading system. We are pleased to be renewing our support to the DDAGTF to help developing and least-developed countries further integrate into the global trading system. This is all the more important given the manifold repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the populations of these countries.”
The WTO stated that “overall, Liechtenstein has donated approximately CHF 700,000 to this fund over nearly 20 years”.
The European Union, on July 7 this year at a meeting of the Committee on Trade and Development on Aid for Trade, has contributed EUR 2 million (CHF 2.1 million) over the period 2019-2020 to help developing countries and least-developed countries participate effectively in global trade negotiations.
This donation to the WTO’s DDA Global Trust Fund, the WTO said; “will finance training and other capacity-building activities for government officials to help them better understand and implement WTO agreements and to enhance their negotiating skill-set”.
Former Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said; “trade has the potential to drive economic growth and sustainable development into developing countries by bringing new business opportunities. The EU’s generous donation will help ensure that these economies’ voices are heard in trade negotiations to make this a reality.”
The European Union’s WTO Ambassador, João Aguiar Machado, said; “these are trying times for world trade, for the WTO and its membership. The EU remains strongly committed to the WTO and to the further integration of developing and least-developed countries into the multilateral trading system. We are pleased to be able to continue supporting these joint efforts through the WTO.”
