DDG Zhang highlighted the achievements of three significant WTO technical assistance programs in 2024. He praised participants for their commitment and engagement during the 10-month programs, stating: “Your perspectives and experiences have enriched the WTO Secretariat’s work. I am confident that, like past alumni, you will put the expertise and knowledge you acquired here to good use, helping your governments engage in the WTO and benefit more fully from the global trading system.”
He also expressed gratitude to donors for their ongoing support, which makes these initiatives possible.
The French Irish Mission Programme, funded by France and Ireland, provided 18 government officials with practical experience at their countries' permanent missions to the WTO in Geneva. This initiative aimed to enhance understanding of WTO operations and negotiations. Emmanuelle Ivanov-Durand, France’s Permanent Representative to the WTO, remarked on France's commitment to developing officials' skills from developing economies. Ambassador Noel White of Ireland noted that participants were welcomed to Ireland for firsthand exposure to its international trade practices.
Participant Myrlande Ignounga Mounguengui from Gabon commented: “The ten months we spent at the WTO were an opportunity to strengthen our knowledge of international trade rules, acquire practical skills in trade negotiations and better understand complex issues faced by developing economies and least-developed countries in global trade.”
The Netherlands Trainee Programme involved 14 participants gaining practical experience within various divisions of the WTO Secretariat. Funded by the Netherlands, it aims to deepen government officials' understanding of multilateral trading systems. Ambassador Audrey Goosen encouraged participants to utilize their gained expertise effectively: “Be ambassadors for the WTO and the programme” by promoting awareness about rules-based multilateral trading systems.
Mahlompho Ayanda Selapane from Lesotho shared: “We are now equipped with theoretical knowledge, which coupled with practical experience gained this year will help us foster a deeper understanding of the multilateral trading system and its implications for our economies.”
The Group Coordinators' Support Programme was financed by the WTO Global Trust Fund. It enabled Alassane Doumbia from Mali to assist his country’s mission as coordinator of the Cotton 4 Group in 2024. The group includes Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali.
Doumbia stated: “In addition to allowing me to be at the heart of coordination of Cotton 4, this programme provided me with invaluable experience regarding cotton discussions at the WTO. The knowledge this programme has equipped me with will be immensely valuable for helping my country integrate more fully into global trade.”