The donation to the WTO’s Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF) will finance training for officials in Geneva and elsewhere aimed at helping them better understand and implement WTO agreements and enhancing their negotiating skills. Since the creation of the Fund in 2001, more than 2,400 training and capacity building activities have been organized.

Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said: “Japan’s donation will be important to increase the inclusiveness of the multilateral trading system by promoting the effective participation of developing and least-developed countries. This will help to enhance their economic prospects and their integration into the global economy.”

Japan’s Ambassador, Junichi Ihara, said: “Today, the WTO and the multilateral trading system are facing a critical moment. Japan firmly believes that it is important to make trade more inclusive so that more people can reap the benefits of world trade. We hope this contribution will further enhance the trading capacity of developing countries and promote their participation in global trade.”

Japan is the first WTO member to make a contribution to this fund in 2017. It has donated over CHF 10.5 million to WTO trust funds over the past 15 years.