   
  
PRESS/ 908 
 
11 August 2022  
(22-6084) Page: 1/1 
   
 
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Ireland gives EUR 400,000 to strengthen developing countries' 
participation in world trade  
Ireland is donating EUR 400,000 (close to CHF 395,000) to help developing countries and 
least- developed countries (LDCs) increase their trade know -how and play a bigger part in global 
trade.  
 
A total of EUR 200,000 (CHF 197,000) will go in 2022 to the Standards and Trade Development 
Facility (STDF). This global partnership supports and finan ces projects in developing countries to 
help farmers, processors, exporters and governments comply with international standards for 
agricultural products and connect with global markets. The contribution to the STDF  will be used 
for projects and programmes in line with the STDF's Work Plan 2022 . 
 
A further EUR 200,000 will be allocated to the French and Irish Mission Internship Programme 
(FIMIP) . This programme provides support to small missions in Geneva to help them follow WTO -
related work. Interns under the FIMIP are attached to thei r country's mission in Geneva for a 
maximum duration of 10 months. They are considered as a delegate of their country and can 
represent it in WTO meetings and committees.  
 
WTO Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala said: "The continuous generosity of Ireland  will help 
support multilateral trade negotiations by providing developing and LDC members with the 
necessary tools to participate fully in the trading system.  Strengthening trade -related capacity in 
beneficiary countries where government officials can dev elop their expertise on WTO activities will 
benefit the whole membership."  
 
Ambassador Michael Gaffey of Ireland said: "Our renewed contributions demonstrate Ireland’s 
ongoing commitment to enhance the trading capacities of developing countries and their 
participation in trade negotiations. This is especially timely after the Aid for Trade Global Review at 
the end of last month and the highly successful 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in June. " 
 
Overall, Ireland has donated close to EUR 14 million (CHF 13.8 million) to the various WTO trust 
funds over the past 20 years.  
 
 
END 