Finland has long been an active champion of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) reinforced by this latest contribution to the EIF Trust Fund, currently supported by 23 donors. Finland is also now the chair of the EIF Steering Committee, the global body made up of international agencies, LDCs, donors and observers who advise and guide the delivery and progress of the programme.

The EIF gives 47 LDCs the tools they need to prioritize trade activities that will have the most impact on poor people. It provides a common platform for national partners, from governments, the private sector and civil society to forge a joint future around strong economic growth and sustainable development, with specific projects to address supply-side constraints to trade.

Finland’s Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Hannu Himanen states, “Trade is a powerful tool to fight poverty and to reach the Millennium Development Goals. The EIF plays an important role in enabling LDCs to tap into international trade opportunities. Finland is a long-time supporter of the EIF. It is one of our most important multilateral partners in our Aid for Trade programme. We are also very much involved in taking forward the work of the EIF at the country level, in particular in Zambia, where we are the donor focal point for the framework.”

H.E. Dr. Mothae Anthony Maruping, the Chairman of the EIF Board, remarks, ”On behalf of the EIF Board, I am delighted to welcome an additional contribution from the Government of Finland to the EIF Trust Fund, which goes to support the realization of LDCs—Development Partners’ vision of successfully mainstreaming trade into the national policies of LDCs and effectively integrating it into the rules-based multilateral trading system. The EIF is focused on delivering clear results for LDCs’ communities — this has already been the case with the silk sector in Cambodia or the expansion of agricultural exports in Guinea, for example. Now is the time for Development Partners to strengthen donor coordination on the EIF initiative and back the programme and see what more their support can help achieve through their vision, which is shared with the LDCs.”

Ms. Dorothy Tembo, Executive Director of the EIF Secretariat, comments, ”Finland has been a leading light in support of the EIF programme and our mandate to work to provide a trade route-map out of poverty for the poorest countries as well as in broader regional Aid for Trade efforts. Finland’s financial and political backing once again highlights how through working in partnership, even greater results can be achieved that will make a real difference to how communities can continue to produce, market and trade for their own future. In the run-up to the UN LDC IV Conference next year, I urge the international community to follow Finland’s example and build on these valuable efforts by pledging even greater assistance.”
  

Notes to editors:
1. The Enhanced Integrated Framework is a multi-donor programme that supports Least Developed Countries to be more active players in the global trading system by helping them tackle supply-side constraints to trade.

2. The programme is currently helping 47 of the poorest countries worldwide, supported by a Multi-Donor Trust Fund with contributions from 23 donors. 21 projects are already under way since 2009.

3. The Enhanced Integrated Framework Executive Secretariat (EIF ES), housed in the WTO, and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) as EIF Trust Fund Manager work in support of the programme.
  

For further information, please contact the Enhanced Integrated Framework Executive Secretariat (EIF ES), Trade and Communications Adviser, on +41227395421 or +41767885537 or visit: www.integratedframework.org