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29 July 2021  
(21-5952) Page: 1/1 
    
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Ireland gives EUR 440,000 to help developing countries better 
participate in world trade  
Ireland is contributing EUR 440,000 (close to CHF 480,000) to help developing countries and least-
developed countries (LDCs) increase their trade know -how and play a bigger part in global trade . 
Ireland's  WTO Ambassador, Michael Gaffey, confirmed the contribution at a meeting with 
Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala on 29 July at the WTO.  
A tota l of EUR 200,000 (CHF 220,000) will go to the Standards and Trade Development Facility 
(STDF) . This global partnership brings together public and private sector organizations across 
agriculture, health, tr ade and development to enhance collaboration, share experiences, and 
promote sanitary and phytosanitary capacity development in developing and least developed 
countries. The STDF supports and finances projects in these countries to help farmers, processors , 
exporters, and governments comply with international standards and connect with global markets.  
Ireland will allocate a further EUR 200,000 (CHF 220,000) to help government officials from LDCs 
and small, vulnerable economies undertake ten -month secondme nts in their respective missions in 
Geneva. Twenty interns are currently participating in the 2021 French -Irish Mission Internship 
Programme . The officials take part in the WTO's work in Geneva and have the opportunity to 
represent their countries at WTO meetings.  
Thanks to a contribution of EUR 40,000 (CHF 43,000), a number of officials from LDCs will be able 
to take part in the 12th Ministerial Conference  in Geneva in the week of 30 November . Ireland's 
donation will help to cover travel expenses, such as air tickets and hotel accommodation. The 
LDC Trust Fund benefits from contributions from mult iple WTO members and is set up for each 
Ministerial Conference to increase LDC participation at the event.  
WTO Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala said: "The participation of LDCs' trade officials in the 
12th Ministerial Conference will be crucial to deli ver concrete negotiated results, thereby helping 
spread the benefits of trade more widely. I thank Ireland for helping to ensure that multilateral 
negotiations are truly inclusive."  
Ambassador Gaffey said: "Through our renewed support, we confirm Ireland's  commitment to 
strengthening the participation of LDCs and small, vulnerable economies in the work of the WTO 
and in global markets. This is especially important as we prepare for the 12th WTO Ministerial 
Conference and as we work together to recover from the global impact of the COVID -19 
pandemic. " 
Overall, Ireland has donated EUR 13 million (CHF 14.1 million) to the various WTO trust funds over 
the past 20 years.  
END 