The contribution is to the LDCs Trust Fund, which is set up for each Ministerial Conference, the WTO's top decision-making body. The funding will help cover travel expenses (i.e. flight tickets and accommodation) for officials from LDCs attending the 12th Ministerial Conference. Multiple WTO members contribute to this fund.

“The EU's generous donation will help to ensure that LDCs can make their voices heard in multilateral trade negotiations,” WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said. “Such support is an important building block for making MC12 truly inclusive and for generating trade-related outcomes to improve the well-being of people worldwide.”

The European Union's WTO Ambassador, João Aguiar Machado, said: “The EU remains deeply committed to promoting the active participation of least-developed countries in the multilateral trading system, including at WTO ministerial conferences. A strong LDC representation in Geneva will be an important element in making the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference a success.”

Overall, the EU has donated EUR 26.5 million (CHF 28.5 million) to the various WTO trust funds over the past 20 years.