   
  
PRESS/ 927 
 
7 June 2023  
(23-3879) Page: 1/2 
    
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Australia donates AUD 2 million to WTO Fisheries Funding 
Mechanism  
The government of Australia is providing AUD 2 million (approximately CHF 1.2 million) to the 
WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism to assist developing members and least -developed country 
members in implementing the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Senator the  Hon Tim Ayres, 
Assistant Minister for Trade and Assistant Minister for Manufacturing, presented the contribution to 
WTO Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala on 7 June, at the informal WTO ministerial meeting 
held on the side lines of the Organisation for Economic Co -operation and Development's (OECD) 
Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris, France.  
 
Director -General Okonjo -Iweala said: "I extend my deep appreciation to Australia for its very 
generous donation to the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism. I am heart ened to see Australia so 
rapidly make good on its pledge to support the Fund. Australia's donation is a strong affirmation of 
its support for the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies as a means to improving the health of our 
ocean, and will make a real differe nce for developing and LDC members seeking assistance to 
implement the new agreement. " 
 
Assistant Minister Ayres said: "Australia is pleased to make this contribution of AUD 2 million to 
the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism. It will help developing WTO memb ers implement the 
historic agreement reached at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) and ultimately help curb 
overfishing and bolster food security. We stand ready to continue this important work with the 
WTO membership and encourage other members to con tribute to the Fund or request assistance."  
 
Because the new Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies will involve adjustments and enhancements to 
WTO members' legislative and administrative frameworks, transparency and notification 
requirements, and fisheries man agement policies and practices,  Article 7 of the 
Agreement  provides for the creation of a funding mechanism to provide targeted technical 
assistance a nd capacity building to help developing and least -developed country members with 
implementation once they have deposited their instruments of acceptance.  
 
The fund is operated by the WTO with partner organizations, namely the Food and Agriculture 
Organizat ion (FAO) of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and 
the World Bank Group, which bring to bear relevant expertise and allow the WTO to leverage its 
own expertise.  
 
More information on the fund, which became operational on 8 November, is available  here. PRESS/ 927 
 
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  Including the most recent donation, Australia's total contribution to the various WTO trust funds 
from 2002 to 2023 is CHF 21,253,455.  
 
 
END 