The FINANCIAL — The government of Norway has donated nearly CHF 3.5 million to various WTO trust funds to help developing and least-developed countries (LDCs) participate in multilateral trade negotiations, access agricultural markets and implement the WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
A contribution of NOK 10 million (CHF 1 million) to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund will finance training workshops on trade negotiations in Geneva and elsewhere for government officials from developing countries.
A donation of NOK 4 million (CHF 500,000) to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) will help LDCs access agricultural markets. The STDF is a global partnership that aims to help the WTO’s poorest members establish and implement sanitary and phytosanitary standards in the areas of food safety, animal health and plant health, according to WTO.
A contribution of NOK 15 million (CHF 2 million) to the Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF) will help developing countries reap the full benefits of the TFA. The Facility — created at the request of developing countries and LDCs — became operational in November 2014 when the General Council adopted the Trade Facilitation Agreement Protocol, inserting the new Agreement into the WTO rulebook.
WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said: “Norway’s generous contribution is very welcome. It will be essential for enhancing the integration of developing and least-developed countries into the multilateral trading system so as to help foster economic growth and raise living standards in these countries.”
Norway’s WTO Ambassador, Harald Neple, said: “Through our contribution, we aim to strengthen the possibilities for poor countries to participate in the multilateral trading system. We are committed to cooperating with poor countries in their efforts to use trade as an instrument of development.”
Norway is the largest contributor to several WTO trust funds. Since 2001, it has donated over CHF 36 million.
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