The United Kingdom will contribute GBP 750,000 (just over CHF 850,000) to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Global Trust Fund in 2025 to help developing and least developed countries take part in trade negotiations and roll out trade rules, according to a WTO press release. The funding will support training programs for government officials, with a strong focus on services—a sector playing a growing role in global trade.
The Trust Fund, launched in 2001, has long supported the participation of officials from developing economies through trade-related training, typically covering around half of the program costs. Topics range from agriculture and trade facilitation to the expanding area of services.
UK Ambassador to the WTO Simon Manley said the services sector presents a real opportunity for job growth and broader participation in the global economy. “We’re proud to support the WTO’s work so that countries can better benefit from services trade,” he said, referring in particular to the Trade in Services for Development initiative—the WTO’s joint program with the World Bank.
The initiative aims to help countries tap into the economic potential of services trade by offering technical support and trainings tailored to national contexts. It is part of the WTO’s wider Aid for Trade efforts, which assist members in building up their trade systems and institutions.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed the UK’s continued backing, saying it helps officials turn trading opportunities into local results. The UK has now provided over CHF 14 million to WTO trust funds across more than 20 years.
