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11 June 2022  
(22-4478) Page: 1/1 
    
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Australia contributes CHF 70,000 to support LDCs' participation in 
MC12  
Australia is contributing just over CHF 70,000 to help government officials from least -developed 
countries ( LDCs) take part in the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference, which will be held from 12 to 15 
June 2022 in Geneva.  
 
The contribution will help cover travel expenses (i.e. flight tickets and accommodation) for officials 
from LDCs attending the 12th Ministerial Conference . The financing will be submitted to the LDCs 
Trust Fund, which is set up for each Ministerial Conference. Multiple WTO members contribute to 
this fund.  
 
"The 12th Min isterial Conference offers WTO members an opportunity to show that trade can play 
an important role in addressing many of the big challenges of our time," WTO Director -General 
Ngozi  Okonjo -Iweala said. "I thank Australia for helping ensure that least -devel oped countries can 
participate in these discussions at MC12. " 
 
Australia's Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell, said: "As a strong proponent of an 
inclusive, rules -based multilateral trading system, Australia is pleased to support LDCs' par ticipation 
in the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference. The Conference is a critical opportunity to deliver much -
needed outcomes on issues including agriculture and food security, vaccine equity and fisheries 
subsidies, which would all create significant opport unities for LDC members. It is therefore vital that 
LDCs are able to participate fully in the Conference and advocate firmly for their interests. We look 
forward to working with these members next week to make the Conference a success."  
 
Overall, Australia  has contributed over CHF 20 million to the various WTO trust funds over the past 
20 years.  
 
 
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