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WTO NEWS: 2002 PRESS RELEASES

Press/327
19 December 2002
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Denmark to donate 1 million Swiss Francs to WTO technical assistance

The Government of Denmark pledged today a contribution of DKK 3 million (CHF 600,000) for 2003 to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund and a contribution of DKK 2 million (CHF 400,000) for 2002-2004 to the WTO internship programme.

Danish Ambassador Henrik Rée Iversen and WTO Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi met today to sign two Memoranda of Understanding affirming these commitments.

“The integration of developing countries and especially the least developed countries in the international trade system has for a long time been a top priority for the Danish Government,” said Ambassador Iversen. “I am therefore delighted to be able to sign two agreements today with the Director-General, Supachai. Denmark hereby gives support of 5 million Danish Kroner to the highly qualified assistance which the World Trade Organization is rendering to the developing countries in the field of trade”.

“I am extremely grateful to Denmark for its generous contribution to WTO’s technical assistance activities,” said Dr. Supachai. “The internship programme is one that has already proved very successful both in training developing country officials and in improving developing country representation in the WTO. The Doha Trust Fund is essential to enable developing countries to participate actively in the comprehensive round of negotiations currently underway”.

Under the internship programme, young professionals from developing countries are recruited by the WTO to work in the mission of their country in Geneva for 12 months.

The Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund was created following the WTO Ministerial Conference in Doha, in November 2001, which launched a new round of negotiations. In December 2002, the General Council approved a target amount of CHF 24 million for 2003 for the Doha Trust Fund.