The contribution will help cover travel expenses (i.e. flight tickets and accommodation) for officials from LDCs attending the 12th Ministerial Conference. The financing will be submitted to the LDCs Trust Fund, which is set up for each Ministerial Conference. Multiple WTO members contribute to this fund.

“The 12th Ministerial Conference offers WTO members an opportunity to show that trade can play an important role in addressing many of the big challenges of our time,” WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said. “I thank Australia for helping ensure that least-developed countries can participate in these discussions at MC12.”

Australia's Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell, said: “As a strong proponent of an inclusive, rules-based multilateral trading system, Australia is pleased to support LDCs' participation in the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference. The Conference is a critical opportunity to deliver much-needed outcomes on issues including agriculture and food security, vaccine equity and fisheries subsidies, which would all create significant opportunities for LDC members. It is therefore vital that LDCs are able to participate fully in the Conference and advocate firmly for their interests. We look forward to working with these members next week to make the Conference a success.”

Overall, Australia has contributed over CHF 20 million to the various WTO trust funds over the past 20 years.