“I welcome this contribution from Japan which will play an important role in strengthening the capacity of developing and least-developed countries when it comes to trade, thereby facilitating their integration into the global economy,” declared WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo.

Japan’s ambassador Yoichi Otabe stated: “Japan has always been an active promoter of the Aid for Trade initiative and has worked with the international community to address various constraints that developing and least-developed members face when participating in international trade.  Japan continues to support the effort of these members to improve their trade and productive capacities and hopes this contribution will facilitate further integration of developing and least-developed members into the multilateral trading system.”

Since 2002, Japan has donated to the WTO’s various trust funds a total of CHF 9,867,000.