  
  
PRESS/947  
15 February  2024 
(24-1335) Page: 1/2 
  
 
  
PRESS RELEASE  
STANDARDS AND TRADE DEVELOPMENT FACILITY (STDF)  
Norway boosts global trade and food safety with NOK 16 million  
contribution to the STDF  
Norway is contributing NOK 16 million  (approximately CHF 1.3 million ) to the Standards and Trade 
Development Facility (STDF) to help developing economies and least -developed countries (LDCs) 
meet international sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, facilitating their access to global 
markets.  
 
Norway's pledge was confirmed at a ceremony attended by WTO Director -General  
Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala and Norway's WTO Ambassador Petter Ølberg on 1 2 February  at the WTO . 
The Head of the STDF, Melvin Spreij, also took part in the ceremony.  
 
WTO Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala said : "I am grateful for Norway's generous 
contribution to the STDF . This contribution underscores the importance of international 
cooperation in advancing food safety systems, contributing to poverty reduction, enhanced food 
security and better prote ction of the environment . With Norway's support, the STDF will continue 
to develop and finance projects helping developing countries meet international food safety 
standards, promoting safe and inclusive trade."  
 
Ambassador Ølberg said : "Norway is happy to  continue our long -standing support for the STDF . No 
doubt about it, the STDF is efficient in assisting developing and least developed members access 
global markets, strengthening their compliance with international sanitary and phytosanitary 
standards . This also answers to concerns by the WTO G90 group in their Agreement -specific 
proposal on SPS."  
 
The contribution from the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) will enable 
the STDF to launch new collaborative SPS capacity development projects across Africa, 
Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean . It will also enhance the STDF's knowledge platform, 
which serves as a catalyst for identifying and disseminati ng best practices, fostering innovative 
approaches and promoting the exchange of information that enhances SPS work globally.  
 
Developing economies and LDCs  are encouraged to apply for SPS project and project preparation 
grants from the STDF . The upcoming deadline for submission of funding proposals is 
1 March  2024. For more information on how to apply, click here. 
 
The new contribution from NORAD extends its collaboration with the STDF into 2024 . Norway's 
total contribution to the various WTO trust funds from 2001 to 2023 is approximately 
CHF 44,578,000.  PRESS/947  
- 2 - 
   
The STDF is a glob al multi -stakeholder partnership to facilitate safe and inclusive trade, 
established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the 
World  Health Organization (WHO), the World Bank Group, the World Organisation for Animal 
Health ( WOAH) 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 Global Goals.  
 
 
END 