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Press/204
13 December 2000
Germany contributes DM 5 million to the WTO technical assistance fund

The German government today announced a donation of DM 5 million (about CHF 3.8 million) for a 5 year programme to strengthen the participation of least developed countries (LDCs) in the WTO. Dr. Uschi Eid, Parliamentary Secretary of State in the German Ministry for Economic Development, signed today a Memorandum of Understanding with WTO Director-General, Mike Moore, on the disbursement of the first tranche of DM 2 million.

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The 5 year technical assistance programme aims to help LDCs implement existing WTO rules and to represent their own interests better at the next round of negotiations.

“Our aim in making this contribution is also to signal that a viable global future presupposes that all peoples and nations are equal partners in the negotiations and are able to present their interest,” Ms Eid said.

“I am particularly grateful to Germany for its donation to the WTO Trust Fund”, said Mike Moore. “Germany's contribution will help the most disadvantaged of WTO Members in times when the WTO is facing increasing demand for technical assistance.”