Austria has contributed EUR 200,000 to the World Trade Organization (WTO) Chairs Programme, which supports universities and research institutes in developing and least-developed countries to strengthen their expertise in international trade, the WTO announced. The programme provides academic institutions with financial and technical assistance over four years to build capacity across three key areas — research, curriculum development, and outreach.
The WTO Chairs Programme currently includes 39 academic institutions worldwide, forming a global network that connects trade experts, policymakers, and students to advance inclusive economic growth through education and research.
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed Austria’s renewed support, describing it as “an important investment in knowledge and capacity-building.” She added that empowering academic partners in developing countries “creates a strong global network of trade expertise that benefits policymakers and local communities alike.”
Austria’s Federal Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism, Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, said the contribution reflects the country’s long-standing commitment to fair and inclusive trade.
“The WTO Chairs Programme plays a vital role in strengthening trade expertise in developing economies, ensuring that research and education support a more equitable global trading system,” he said.
Over the past two decades, Austria has provided more than CHF 6 million to WTO trust funds, underscoring its sustained engagement in technical assistance and institutional capacity-building efforts for developing partner countries.
