The LDC Trust Fund is set up for each Ministerial Conference, which is the WTO's top decision-making body. The contribution will help defray travel expenses (i.e. ticket and accommodation) for officials from LDCs to participate in MC12. Multiple WTO members contribute to this fund.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “It is of the utmost importance that all the WTO's least-developed countries are able to make their voices heard at MC12 to negotiate multilateral trade agreements that will bring growth and prosperity to their people. I thank New Zealand for helping to achieve this goal and for its generosity.”

New Zealand's WTO Ambassador, David Walker, said: “New Zealand strongly supports the rules-based multilateral trading system and looks forward to a successful MC12 that delivers meaningful outcomes for all WTO members. Trade is a necessary tool for development and economic growth. Through our new contribution, we seek to help LDCs participate effectively in international trade and WTO decision-making.”

Overall, New Zealand has donated CHF 1.6 million to the various WTO trust funds over the past 20 years.