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30 October 2019  
(19-7286) Page: 1/1 
    
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Estonia gives EUR 20,000  to help poorer countries improve 
negotiating skill -set 
The government of Estonia is contributing EUR 20,000 (CHF 22,000) in 2019 to help developing 
countries and least -developed countries (LDCs) increase their participation in multilateral trade 
negotiations.   
 
Estonia's contribution to the WTO’s DDA Global Tr ust Fund will finance training workshops for 
officials in Geneva and elsewhere to help them better understand and implement WTO 
agreements. Over 2,800 workshops have been organized since the fund was created in 2001.  
 
Welcoming Estonia's contribution to th e fund, WTO Director -General Roberto Azevêdo  said: "I 
thank Estonia for its support and generosity. This contribution will contribute to supporting our 
shared goal of improving the negotiating capacities of developing and least -developed members so 
they ca n continue to make their voice heard in global trade talks."  
 
Estonia's Ambassador to the WTO,  Katrin Saarsalu -Layachi, said: "Estonia has been a strong 
supporter of the WTO rules -based multilateral trading system. Our aim is to support developing 
and less -developed countries so they can become well -integrated into the world trading system ."  
 
Overall, Estonia has donated over CHF 300,000 to WTO trust funds in nearly 20 years.  
 
 
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