The contribution will help cover travel expenses (i.e. flight tickets and accommodation) for government officials from LDCs attending MC13. 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.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: “Active participation by LDCs at MC13 is essential for the multilateral community to deliver results that respond to the needs of our most vulnerable members. I thank Iceland for helping to ensure that negotiations at MC13 respond to the needs and priorities of LDCs.”

Iceland's WTO Ambassador, Einar Gunnarsson, said: “Full participation of all WTO members is important for an inclusive, rules-based multilateral trading system. With this contribution, Iceland is pleased to be able to support the participation of LDCs in the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, ensuring that their voices will be heard in Abu Dhabi.”

Overall, Iceland has contributed approximately CHF 825,000 to the various WTO trust funds over more than 20 years.