 PRESS RELEASE
PRESS/360
22 October 2003
(03-5584)
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
Norway donates 6 million Norweg ian Kroner to WTO technical
assistance
The Government of Norway pledged on 14 October 2003 a contribution of 6 million Norwegian
Kroner (CHF 1.2 million) to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund. This contribution will
be used to finance the WTO technical assistance plan in 2003.
“Norway has for several years been a staunch supporter of the WTO trade-related technical
assistance to developing, and in particular leas t-developed countries,” said Norwegian Ambassador
Kåre Bryn. “Strengthening the capacity of the developing and the least-developed countries to
make full use of the multilateral trading system is essential if we are to succeed in poverty
alleviation and economic growth on a sustainable, long-term basis. Norway considers this to be ashared responsibility and remains committed to the continued efforts of the WTO to this end.”
“I am extremely grateful to Norway for contributing again to the Doha Development Fund,” said
WTO Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi. “We can only reach a successful outcome to the
Doha round of negotiations with the full participation of all WTO Members. Increasingly, developing
countries are expressing the desire to contribute more actively to the WTO debate. We can helpthem, through technical assistance, equip themselves with the right tools to do so.”
Norway is one of the biggest voluntary contributors to WTO technical assistance since 1995, with a
total of CHF 7.6 million.
The Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund was set up following the WTO Ministerial
Conference in Doha in November 2001 which launched a new round of negotiations. In December
2002, the General Council approved a target amount of 24 million Swiss francs for the Doha Trust
Fund for 2003.
END