By TIOL News Service

GENEVA, MAR 17, 2017: THE government of Austria is contributing CHF 200,000 in 2017 to help developing countries and least-developed countries participate effectively in global trade negotiations.

The donation to the WTO’s Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF) will finance training for officials in Geneva and elsewhere to help them better understand and implement WTO agreements and to enhance their negotiating skills. Since the creation of the Fund in 2001, more than 2,400 training and capacity building activities have been organized.

Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said: “Austria's donation will support developing and least-developed countries to improve their trading capacity so that they can integrate more effectively into the global economy. I welcome Austria's continued generosity.”

Austria's Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister of Science, Research and Economy, Reinhold Mitterlehner, stated: “Austria believes that inclusive trade can considerably contribute to sustainable development by stimulating economic growth and reducing poverty through job creation. Through our donation to this fund, we are renewing our commitment to supporting developing countries and LDCs in expanding their trade capacities and integrating into regional and global value chains.”

Austria has donated nearly CHF 4,5 million to WTO trust funds over the past 15 years and is the third donor to the fund this year.