EU, others stake over €1m to enhance participation in global trade

The European Union is contributing EUR 1 million (over CHF 1.2 million) to improve the trading capacity of developing countries and to help them play a more active role in trade negotiations.

Similarly, the government of Sweden is also contributing SEK 19.2 million (approximately CHF 2.3 million) to promote similar cause.

The EU’s donation to the WTO’s Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund will finance training workshops for officials in Geneva and elsewhere to help them better understand and implement WTO agreements and to enhance their negotiating skill-set. Since the creation of the fund in 2001, over 2,500 workshops have been organized.

Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said: “This donation will be important to help officials from developing and least-developed countries increase their knowledge and understanding of trade issues to help them connect to global markets. I welcome the EU’s generous support.”

EU Commissioner Cecilia Malmström said: “All WTO members have to be able to participate in trade negotiations if we are to achieve truly global solutions to today’s trade issues. We are ring-fencing part of this donation to fund efforts to support women’s participation in trade in recognition of the important role that women entrepreneurs play in today’s trading environment.”

Sweden’s Minister for EU Affairs and Trade Ann Linde said: “Trade plays an important role in supporting inclusive growth, reducing poverty and fulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals. Helping developing countries to improve their capacity to trade and to benefit from the multilateral trading system is a priority for Sweden. That is why we continue to contribute significantly to the WTO’s Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund.”

The EU has donated approximately EUR 20 million (just over CHF 22 million) to WTO trust funds over the last 15 years, in addition to significant contributions made by individual EU member states.