GENEVA (CHATNEWSTV) — France has delivered a fresh €1.9 million (CHF 1.7 million) installment to support trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building programmes for developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs), officials announced Tuesday.
The contribution is part of a broader €6 million funding agreement signed between France and the World Trade Organization (WTO) in July 2024. The funds will support three key initiatives: the French-Irish Mission Programme, the WTO Chairs Programme, and the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF).
“Our support for technical assistance in the WTO is a concrete expression of our commitment to an inclusive multilateral system,” said Emmanuelle Ivanov-Durand, France’s ambassador to the WTO. “It increases the number of people who are able to participate in the multilateral trading system and ultimately reap its benefits.”
France’s contribution will be distributed as follows:
€900,000 to the French-Irish Mission Programme, which funds the placement of officials from developing countries and LDCs at Geneva-based permanent missions.
€550,000 to the WTO Chairs Programme, supporting academic institutions in trade-focused research, curriculum development, and outreach.
€500,000 to the STDF, aimed at helping countries meet international standards in food safety, animal and plant health, and sanitary measures under the new 2025–2030 strategy.
Deputy Director-General Zhang of the WTO welcomed France’s ongoing support.
“Given the pace of changes we are experiencing in trade, the value of technical assistance is more important than ever,” Zhang said. “France’s targeted support ensures that these programmes continue to deliver practical results and sustainable systems for governments and academia alike.”
France has contributed more than €34 million (CHF 33 million) to WTO trust funds over the past two decades, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to inclusive trade and development.
