   
  
PRESS/ 887 
 
17 September 2021  
(21-6918) Page: 1/1 
    
 
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Sweden donates CHF 2 million to help developing countries 
strengthen negotiating skills  
The government of Sweden has contributed SEK 19,200,000 (approximately CHF 2 million) in 
2021 to help developing countries and least -developed countries (LDCs) play a more active role in 
multilateral trade negotiations. This donation to the WTO’s Global Tr ust Fund will finance training 
and other capacity -building activities for government officials to help them better understand and 
implement WTO agreements and to enhance their trade negotiating skills.  
 
Over 2,900 activities have been organised under this fund over the past 20 years.  
 
WTO Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala said: "I thank Sweden for once again providing such 
generous support to developing countries and LDCs. We hope that the WTO's capacity -building 
activities will equip them with the neces sary trade skills to improve living standards and forge 
ahead with their development objectives."  
 
Sweden's WTO Ambassador, Mikael Anzén, said: "International trade plays a central role in helping 
developing and least -developed countries recover from the C OVID -19 pandemic, reduce poverty 
and achieve sustainable and inclusive economic development. As an active contributor to the 
Global Trust Fund, Sweden is proud to extend its long -term commitment to strengthening these 
countries' capacity to trade and play a more active role in the multilateral trading system. This 
commitment also supports the global implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations 
Sustainable Development Goals. " 
 
Overall, Sweden has donated approximately SEK 553 million (CHF 60 mill ion) to the various WTO 
trust funds over the past 20 years.  
 
 
END 