WTO NEWS: 2004 PRESS RELEASES

Press/375
27 April 2004
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

Korea contributes US$ 200,000 to WTO technical assistance

The Government of the Republic of Korea has made a contribution of US$ 200,000 (CHF 250 000) to the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund. This contribution, made on 27 April 2004, will finance the implementation of the WTO Technical Assistance and Training Plan in 2004.

Ambassador CHOI Hyuck, Korea's Permanent Representative to the WTO and Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Director-General of the WTO signed today the Memorandum of Understanding on the contribution by Korea.

“As one of the countries that have traded their way out of poverty, Korea stands firm in its faith that increased participation in the multilateral trading system is the key for economic development” said Korean Ambassador CHOI Hyuck. “The WTO technical assistance activities provide a highly valuable opportunity for developing and least-developed countries to strengthen their capacity to realize the gains from participation in the multilateral trading system. Korea’s yearly contribution represents its continued support for WTO's commitment to trade-related capacity building of developing and least-developed countries”.

“I very much welcome Korea's contribution” said WTO Director-General Supachai. “While technical assistance activities have significantly increased, there is still much that can be done to help developing and least-developed countries not only to participate fully in the negotiations but also to benefit from the multilateral trading system”.

As a strong supporter of WTO technical assistance activities, Korea has contributed over US$ 940,000 since 2001.


From left to right: Ambassador CHOI Hyuck, Korea's Permanent Representative to the WTO and Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi, Director-General of the WTO.
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