Sweden's 2020 donation to the Global Trust Fund will be used to finance training workshops for officials to help them deepen their understanding of multilateral trade rules and strengthen their negotiating capacity.

Deputy Director-General Yonov Frederick Agah said: “The Global Trust Fund plays an important role in building the negotiating capacity of the WTO’s developing and least-developed members and ensuring their voices are heard in global trade talks. I thank Sweden for its continued support and generosity.”

Sweden’s Ambassador to the WTO Mikael Anzén noted: “Trade is central for achieving sustainable, inclusive economic development and poverty reduction, and for recovery and building back better in light of Covid-19. Supporting developing countries’ capacity to benefit from the multilateral trading system and their capacity to trade is more important than ever. That is why Sweden is proud to continue to be an active contributor to the WTO's Global Trust Fund”.

The Global Trust Fund is the flagship WTO trust fund providing support to a wide range of trade-related technical assistance activities. More than 2,500 workshops have been organized since the creation of the fund in 2001.

Overall, Sweden has donated more than CHF 56 million to WTO Trust Funds since 2002.