PRESS RELEASE
technical assistance
France gives EUR 1.9 million to build capacity in developing economies,
LDCs
The government of
France has provided a second instalment of CHF 1.7 million (approximately EUR
1.9 million) to support technical assistance and capacity-building programmes
for developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs).
Through the agreement
signed by France and the WTO in July 2024, France provides, over a period of
three years, funding of EUR 6 million to
the French-Irish Mission Programme, the WTO Chairs Programme and the Standards
and Trade Development Facility. These programmes are aimed at helping
government officials from developing economies and LDCs better implement global
trade rules and standards and at helping academic institutions provide support
for trade policy-making.
"Our support for technical assistance in
the WTO is a concrete expression of our commitment to an inclusive multilateral
system," France's WTO Ambassador Emmanuelle Ivanov-Durand said.
"Technical assistance is an important part of the WTO – it increases the
number of people who are able to participate in the multilateral trading system
and ultimately reap its benefits. France is proud to support the French-Irish
Mission Programme, the WTO Chairs Programme and the Standards and Trade
Development Facility, especially in these difficult times when resources are
increasingly difficult to mobilize and when the multilateral system is under
strain."
The French-Irish
Mission Programme, sponsored by France and Ireland, will receive EUR
900,000 (CHF 870,000) to finance the placement of government officials at the
permanent missions of developing economies, LDCs and observers in Geneva.
A total of EUR
550,000 (CHF 530,000) will support the WTO
Chairs Programme aimed at helping academic institutions in developing and
least developed members and observers build and sustain their expertise in
international trade through projects focusing on research, curriculum
development and outreach.
The Standards and
Trade Development Facility will receive EUR 500,000 (CHF 480,000) to help
developing economies and LDCs implement food safety, animal health and plant
health standards required for international trade. It will also help to improve
their sanitary and phytosanitary capacity in line with the most recent STDF
Strategy covering the period 2025-2030.
Deputy
Director-General Zhang said: "Given the pace of changes we are
experiencing in trade, the value of technical assistance is more important than
ever. With France’s targeted support, these programmes continue to make
significant contributions to developing economies by providing hands-on
experience at the WTO, facilitating practical projects and establishing
sustainable systems to help government officials tackle complex new areas with
the help of academia."
France has
contributed just over EUR 34 million (approximately CHF 33 million) to the
various WTO trust funds over more than 20 years.
END