PRESS RELEASE
PRESS/264
19 December 2001
(01-6465)
GERMANY CONTRIBUTES DM 1 MILLION
TO THE WTO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FUND
The German government today announced a donation of DM 1 million (about CHF 0.75 million) for a
multi-year programme that shall contribute:
(a) to expand, improve and maintain WTO information technology tools in support of
developing and in particular least developed countries (LDCs), focusing on WTO
Reference Centres;
(b) to increase developing countries' knowledge of WTO rules, implement their
commitments and obligations and exercise their rights, focusing on the assistance to
LDCs,
(c) to improve programming, implementation and coordination of technical assistance in
accordance with the guidance formulated  in New WTO Strategy for Technical
Cooperation.
To this effect, Ambassador. Walter Lewalter, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of
Germany to the International Organizations at Geneva, signed today an arrangement with WTO
Director-General, Mike Moore.
"Our aim in making this contribution is to show support for the Doha Development Agenda
and enable developing countries to be equal partners in the negotiations"  Ambassador. Lewalter said.
"I am particularly grateful to Germany for its donation to the WTO Trust Fund", said
Director-General Mike Moore. "Germany's contri bution will help the most disadvantaged of WTO
Members in times when the WTO has to meet an increasing demand for technical cooperation and
capacity building. This contribution is a concrete expression of Germany's commitment to thepriorities established by Ministers in Doha, in particular to give greater assistance to developing
countries .  I am sincerely grateful for this donation".
END