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11 January 2023  
(23-0300) Page: 1/2 
    
 
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Germany gives EUR 2.85 million to support safe agriculture trade 
in developing countries  
Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is contributing EUR 2.85 
million (approximately CHF 2.8 million) to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) 
over a period of four years (2022 -2025) to facilitate safe and inclusive agricultural trade in 
developing and least -developed countries (LDCs) and to help them m eet international food safety, 
animal and plant health standards.  
 
WTO Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala said: "I thank Germany for its generous and 
longstanding support to developing countries and LDCs in strengthening their compliance with 
sanitary an d phytosanitary (SPS) measures. When farmers are empowered to meet these 
standards, it improves access to global and regional markets, paving the way for increased sales 
and incomes. Enhanced SPS capacity also means more sustainable, resilient food systems , which 
contributes to food security at home and globally."  
 
Germany's Ambassador to the WTO, Dr Bettina Waldmann, said:  "More than ever, it is time to 
show that WTO members help each other to fulfil their obligations, strengthen their know -how and 
further  develop their trade capacities. Germany is pleased to see the STDF working fruitfully in the 
interest of all, enhancing everybody’s health and promoting sustainable agriculture."  
 
Germany's contribution to the STDF will improve food safety systems by enha ncing SPS capacity, 
reducing trade barriers and trade costs in developing countries. The funding will also strengthen 
the STDF's knowledge platform, which connects diverse stakeholders from across agriculture, 
health, trade and development to identify and disseminate good practice. This encourages 
exchange of information about innovative and collaborative approaches to enhance SPS work 
globally.  
 
Developing countries and LDCs are encouraged to apply to the STDF for SPS project and project 
preparation grants . The next deadline for submission of funding proposals is 24 February 2023. 
Information on how to apply is available  here. 
 
To date, Germany has contributed approximately CHF 32.5 million to various WTO trust funds 
since 2002, including more than CHF 5.7 million to the STDF. Germany contributed EUR 150,000 
to the STDF in 2022 through its Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.  
 
The STDF is a global multi -stakeholder partnership to facilitate safe and inclusive trade, 
established by the United Natio ns Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Organisation for PRESS/ 914 
 
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  Animal Health, the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization and the WTO, which houses 
and manages the partnership. The STDF responds to evolving needs, drives inclusive trade, and 
contributes to sustainable economic growth, food security and poverty reduction, in support of the 
United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.  
 
 
END 