PRESS RELEASE 
 
PRESS/368 
9 December 2003 
 
(03-6510) 
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Switzerland donates a total of 1. 5 million Swiss francs to WTO 
technical assistance  
On 4 December 2003 the Swiss Government contributed 750,000 Swiss francs to the Doha 
Development Agenda Global Trust Fund.  This donation is in addition to an initial contribution of the same amount a year ago.  Switzerland is ther eby fulfilling the commitments that it made at 
the Pledging Conference for the Doha Fund in March 2002.   
 "I am extremely grateful to Switzerland for its generous contribution", stated WTO Director-
General Supachai Panitchpakdi.  "It is more than ever essential to provide extensive technical 
assistance to the developing countries so as to  enable them to participate effectively in the 
negotiations of the Doha Round.  Thanks to such contributions we shall be able to try to meet an 
ever growing demand".   
 "The WTO's technical assistance activities play an important role in facilitating the understanding and implementation of the Agreements which make up the multilateral trading system", the Swiss 
authorities declared.  "Switzerland recognizes the efforts made by the WTO Secretariat to 
constantly increase the quality of its technical assistance activities and develop partnerships, not only with other international agencies concerned with trade, but also with academic circles.  
Switzerland attaches particular importance to the establishment of partnerships intended to 
develop training capacities at the local and regional levels.  Certain practices, such as the trade policy reviews and the practical training sessions on trade, offer useful opportunities for identifying 
more effectively the needs of the developing countries and providing technical assistance which is 
both flexible and properly structured".    The Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund was established following the WTO Ministerial 
Conference which was held in Doha in November 2001 and which launched a new round of 
negotiations.  The developing countries indicated th at they required greater technical capacities in 
order to be able to negotiate on an equal footing with the other countries.  They also requested 
more assistance so as to be able to meet their WTO obligations.  
  
END 