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16 June 2023  
(23-4099) Page: 1/2 
    
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
The Netherlands donates EUR 1 million to WTO Fisheries Funding 
Mechanism  
The government of the Netherlands is contributing EUR 1 million (approximately CHF  961,539) to 
the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism to assist developing members and least -developed country 
members in implementing the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies. Ambass ador Paul Bekkers 
presented the contribution to WTO Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala on 16 June.  
 
Director -General Okonjo -Iweala said: "I extend my  heartfelt appreciation to the Netherlands for its 
contribution to the WTO Fisheries Funding Mechanism. T he Netherlands is a well -known leader in 
environmental policy and water management. Its support for the implementation of the WTO 
Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, through its contribution to the Fund, further underlines its 
commitment to sustainability. I  look forward to further collaboration with the Netherlands and 
other WTO members to build a more resilient and sustainable future for our oceans and fisheries."  
 
Ambassador Bekkers said: "Disciplining harmful fisheries subsidies is an important element in  our 
efforts to maintain healthy fish stocks. The fisheries subsidies agreement reached at the 12th 
Ministerial Conference of the WTO is a significant step towards this. With the Netherlands’ 
contribution of EUR 1 million, we aim to support quick ratificat ion and implementation of the 
agreement, and the rapid conclusion of a second comprehensive agreement."  
 
The presentation of Netherlands' donation coincides with the first anniversary of the Agreement on 
Fisheries Subsidies, which was adopted at the 12th M inisterial Conference (MC12) on 17 June 
2022.  
 
Because the new Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies will involve adjustments and enhancements to 
WTO members' legislative and administrative frameworks, transparency and notification 
requirements, and fisheries m anagement policies and practices,  Article 7 of the 
Agreement  provides for the creation of a funding mechanism to provide targeted technica l 
assistance and capacity building to help developing and least -developed country members with 
implementation.  
 
The fund is operated by the WTO with partner organizations, namely the Food and Agriculture 
Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and 
the World Bank Group, which bring to bear relevant expertise and allow the WTO to leverage its 
own expertise.  
 
More information on the fund, which became operational on 8 November, is available  here. PRESS/ 928 
 
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  Including the most recent donation, the Netherlands' total contribution to the various WTO trust 
funds from 2000 to 2023 is CHF 43,321,647.  
 
 
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