Germany commits EUR 500,000 to WTO trade capacity fund for developing economies
Germany is contributing EUR 500,000 to the World Trade Organization's Global Trust Fund to support developing economies and least developed countries in participating more fully in the multilateral trading system. The pledge, signed in Geneva on 9 November 2026, lifts Germany's cumulative support to more than CHF 28 million since the fund was established in 2000.
Highlights
- Germany pledged EUR 500,000 (about CHF 460,000) to the WTO Global Trust Fund, renewing its commitment to developing economies' trade capacity.
- The Global Trust Fund supports around 280 activities annually, providing targeted training in areas like agriculture, digital trade, and trade negotiation skills for developing members.
- Since inception, the fund has delivered over 2,800 workshops globally and trained 19,000 participants in 2024, enhancing WTO rule implementation capacity for poorer nations.
Funding pledge and support scope
As reported by World Trade Organization, citing Carmen Heidecke, Germany's ambassador to the WTO, signed the memorandum of understanding on behalf of the German federal government at the WTO headquarters in Geneva. The contribution is valued at about CHF 460,000 and is aimed at sustaining technical assistance and capacity-building work for developing and least developed members.Heidecke said the German government is renewing its long-standing commitment to the fund because reliable financing helps ensure poorer members can participate on an equal footing in the rules-based trading system. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the donation comes at a critical time, when support for such assistance is under pressure, and added that Germany's move could encourage other members to contribute.
Capacity-building impact across trade policy areas
The Global Trust Fund finances about 280 activities each year, mainly through tailored training at national and regional level, including online delivery. Its programmes cover areas such as agriculture, digital trade, import licensing, standards, trade and environment, and trade negotiation skills.Andrew Rizk, WTO director for finance and corporate services, said Germany's contribution will help developing and least-developed members and observers strengthen their ability to implement WTO rules, engage more actively in the organization's work and respond to changing trade challenges and opportunities. Since its creation 25 years ago, the fund has supported more than 2,800 training workshops worldwide, including training for 19,000 participants during 2024 alone.
Earlier, we discussed how the WTO warned Middle East war disruptions could reshape global trade and supply chains.
Latest WTO News
-
Afghanistan
-
Albania
-
Algeria
-
Angola
-
Argentina
-
Armenia
-
Australia
-
Austria
-
Azerbaijan
-
Bahamas
-
Bahrain
-
Bangladesh
-
Belarus
-
Belgium
-
Bolivia
-
Botswana
-
Brazil
-
Brunei
-
Bulgaria
-
Cambodia
-
Cameroon
-
Canada
-
Chile
-
China
-
Colombia
-
Congo
-
Costa Rica
-
Cote d'Ivoire
-
Croatia
-
Cuba
-
Cyprus
-
Czechia
-
DR Congo
-
Denmark
-
Dominican Republic
-
Ecuador
-
Egypt
-
El Salvador
-
Estonia
-
Eswatini
-
Ethiopia
-
Finland
-
France
-
Georgia
-
Germany
-
Ghana
-
Greece
-
Haiti
-
Hong Kong
-
Hungary
-
India
-
Indonesia
-
Iran, Islamic republic
-
Iraq
-
Ireland
-
Israel
-
Italy
-
Jamaica
-
Japan
-
Jordan
-
Kazakhstan
-
Kenya
-
Korea
-
Kuwait
-
Kyrgyzstan
-
Laos
-
Latvia
-
Lebanon
-
Lesotho
-
Libya
-
Lithuania
-
Luxembourg
-
Madagascar
-
Malaysia
-
Malta
-
Mauritius
-
Mexico
-
Moldova
-
Mongolia
-
Montenegro
-
Morocco
-
Mozambique
-
Myanmar
-
Namibia
-
Nepal
-
Netherlands
-
New Zealand
-
Nigeria
-
North Macedonia
-
Norway
-
Oman
-
Pakistan
-
Palestine
-
Panama
-
Papua New Guinea
-
Paraguay
-
Peru
-
Philippines
-
Poland
-
Portugal
-
Puerto Rico
-
Qatar
-
Reunion
-
Romania
-
Rwanda
-
Saudi Arabia
-
Serbia
-
Singapore
-
Slovakia
-
Slovenia
-
Somalia
-
South Africa
-
Spain
-
Sri Lanka
-
Sweden
-
Switzerland
-
Syria
-
Taiwan
-
Tajikistan
-
Tanzania
-
Thailand
-
Trinidad and Tobago
-
Tunisia
-
Turkey
-
UAE
-
Uganda
-
Ukraine
-
United Kingdom
-
United States
-
Uruguay
-
Uzbekistan
-
Venezuela
-
Vietnam
-
Yemen
-
Zambia
-
Zimbabwe
- Forex
- Crypto
