SEE ALSO:
press releases
WTO news
Mike Moore's speeches
Renato Ruggiero's speeches,
1995-99
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A recent Appraisal of the Mechanism Members drew attention to the technical assistance
value of Trade Policy Reviews, which provide an overview of the relevant Member's economy
and the role of trade policy in achieving the member's development aims. The Reviews also
facilitate the identification and prioritization of further technical cooperation
requirements. The Appraisal urged that all Members, including least-developed countries,
be reviewed at least once and as soon as possible. The German contribution to the Global
Trust Fund will facilitate this objective, particularly with respect to least-developed
countries.“I welcome
Germany's generous contribution to the Fund“, said WTO Director-General
Mike Moore. “Since the WTO was formed, demand for technical assistance has
increased dramatically. We are doing our best to respond to these demands, on our own and
in cooperation with other international organizations.”
“The
WTO’s regular budget for technical assistance of CHF 741,000 is insufficient to
meet all the demands of developing and least-developed countries, as well as the needs of
economies in transition, to enable them to engage more fully in the trading system. In
recent years, these funds have largely been supplemented by generous contributions from
countries such as Germany to support important programmes for development.”
The
Director-General has called on WTO Member governments to raise the budget for technical
assistance to CHF 10 million to better meet the demand of developing countries. A group of
countries have proposed that such a figure shall be included in the regular WTO budget if
Members agree to this. It is proposed that the figure shall be phased in over a three-year
period starting from the year 2000. |
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