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21 April 2022  
(22-3208) Page: 1/1 
    
 
 
PRESS RELEASE  
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE  
Korea contributes CHF 260,000 to enhance developing countries’ 
trading skills  
The Republic of Korea is donating KRW 339 million (approximately CHF 260,000) to help developing 
and least-developed countries (LDCs) participate effectively in global trade negotiations. This 
contribution to the WTO Global Trust Fund will finance training for government officials, academia 
and research institutions to help them deepen their understanding  of multilateral trade rules.  
 
The Republic of Korea’s donation will finance WTO -related courses, seminars and training workshops 
to improve negotiating skills of government officials in developing countries and enhance their 
understanding of WTO agreement s.  
 
Part of the contribution - KRW 60 million (around CHF 46,000) - will be allocated to the WTO Chairs 
Programme , which aims to support and promote trade -related acade mic activities by universities 
and research institutions.  
 
WTO Director -General Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala welcomed the donation: "As a member with a long 
record of strong advocacy for the multilateral trading system, the Republic of Korea remains very 
active in ensuring that benefits of trade can be enjoyed by all. Thanks to this donation, WTO 
developing and LDC members will be able to participate more effectively in the work of the 
organization, taking advantage of the opportunities international trade offers."  
 
Ambassador Taeho Lee of the Republic of Korea said: "Korea has long supported efforts to better 
integrate developing countries, especially the least developed among them, into the multilateral 
trading system. Our annual contribution to the Global Trust Fu nd is an important manifestation of 
this longstanding commitment. We are particularly pleased to start contributing to the WTO Chairs 
Programme this year. The Chairs Programme will help cultivate the ability of academic institutions 
in developing and least  developed countries to provide expertise relating to the multilateral trading 
system to the governments of those countries. "  
 
Overall, the Republic of Korea has donated around CHF 6.2 million to WTO trust funds.  
 
 
END 