WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo said: "This donation from France will help developing and least-developed countries comply with international sanitary and phytosanitary standards, enabling these countries to trade more, with all the benefits that brings for growth and development. I welcome France's continued generosity."

France's Permanent Representative at the WTO, Jean-Marie Paugam, said: "France views trade-related technical assistance as an important aspect of the WTO's activities. Our country has supported developing countries since the inception of the Doha Trust Fund and other funding programmes, committing more than EUR 28 million. In the future, we want to focus increasingly on programmes with proven impact. In this regard, the STDF has already achieved impressive results. We are very pleased therefore to make this donation to the STDF and we will seriously consider the possibility of increasing our contribution in the near future.”   

France has contributed approximately EUR 17 million (CHF 20 million) to WTO trust funds over the past 17 years.

The STDF is a global coordination platform that brings together leading trade, health and agriculture experts worldwide to share knowledge, tools and good practice and strengthen the effectiveness of SPS technical assistance provided to developing countries. The STDF also provides support and funding for the development and implementation of collaborative and innovative projects that promote compliance with international SPS requirements. The STDF is housed and managed by the WTO.