°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ

“Norway has for several years been a staunch supporter of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ trade-related technical assistance to developing, and in particular least-developed countries,” said Norwegian Ambassador Kåre Bryn. “Strengthening the capacity of the developing and the least-developed countries to make full use of the multilateral trading system is essential if we are to succeed in poverty alleviation and economic growth on a sustainable, long-term basis. Norway considers this to be a shared responsibility and remains committed to the continued efforts of the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ to this end.”

“I am extremely grateful to Norway for contributing again to the Doha Development Fund,” said °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi. “We can only reach a successful outcome to the Doha round of negotiations with the full participation of all °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Members. Increasingly, developing countries are expressing the desire to contribute more actively to the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ debate. We can help them, through technical assistance, equip themselves with the right tools to do so.”

Norway is one of the biggest voluntary contributors to °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ technical assistance since 1995, with a total of CHF 7.6 million.

The Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund was set up following the °ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¹ÙÍø×ÊÁÏ Ministerial Conference in Doha in November 2001 which launched a new round of negotiations. In December 2002, the General Council approved a target amount of 24 million Swiss francs for the Doha Trust Fund for 2003.