The government of Austria is pledging to contribute EUR 200,000 (CHF 242,600) to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF) for 2014 to finance a wide range of trade-related technical assistance activities to help developing and least-developed countries to participate effectively in the Doha round of negotiations. The WTO’s trade-related technical assistance activities and programmes aim to build sustainable trade capacity in beneficiary countries
“Austria’s regular contributions are important to help developing and least-developed countries strengthen their trade capacity and better integrate into the global economy. I welcome this new donation,” declared WTO Director-General Roberto Azevêdo.
Austrian Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister of Science, Research and Economy, Reinhold Mitterlehner said in a statement: “Austria believes that trade can have a significant impact on sustainable development, boost economic growth and reduce poverty. Therefore, this contribution is a strong expression of Austria’s commitment to support developing countries in expanding their trade capacities, facilitate access to new markets and integrate into regional and global value chains.”
Since 2002, Austria has donated to WTO’s various Trust Funds a total of EUR 3,130,000 (CHF 3,780,000).
The Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund (DDAGTF) was established in 2002 to receive extra budgetary contributions from WTO member countries to finance the implementation of WTO’s annual Technical Assistance Plans.