Over the past decade, the Global Trust Fund has funded approximately half of the expenses related to trade training for government officials from developing economies. The areas covered include services, agriculture, and trade facilitation.
UK Ambassador to the WTO, Simon Manley, expressed satisfaction with collaborating with the WTO’s Global Trust Fund. "The UK is pleased to be working with the WTO’s Global Trust Fund to ensure that trade in services – and in particular the Trade in Services for Development initiative - helps developing countries harness the benefits of this sector for job creation and economic development," he stated. He highlighted that services are a rapidly growing area of international trade offering pathways for better integration into the multilateral trading system.
The Trade in Services for Development initiative is an Aid for Trade program developed by both the WTO and World Bank. It aims to help developing economies and LDCs fully benefit from growth opportunities arising from services trade.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged UK's support: "We are grateful to the UK for generously supporting the WTO’s efforts to boost the trading and negotiating capacities of developing economies and LDCs." She emphasized that this assistance will aid government officials in translating market opportunities into tangible benefits at home.
In total, over more than 20 years, UK contributions have exceeded CHF 14 million (nearly GBP 13 million) towards various WTO trust funds.