Press Release
Japan pledges CHF 1.5 million (US$ 0.9 million) to the WTO Global Trust Fund - Special Envoy announces Japan's Technical Assistance Programs -
Geneva, 11 March 2002
Japanese Ambassador Masaji Takahashi, Special Assistant to Foreign Minister announced at the pledging conference on the Doha Development Agenda Global Trust Fund held in Geneva on 11 March, 2002, that the Government of Japan pledges the amount of CHF 1.5 million (US$ 0.9 million) to the Global Trust Fund and that JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) is planning to launch several training programmes on the Singapore issues in cooperation with WTO and UNCTAD. "To enhance trade-related capacity of our developing partners," he emphasized, "the following principles are critical: ownership of the developing Members; partnership with national and international agencies; long-term supply-side assistance." (His speech is attached.)
Some illustrations of the Government of Japan's efforts in trade-related technical assistance and capacity building (detailed programs are attached):
(1) Financial contribution to the Global Trust Fund (the amount of CHF 1.5 million)
(2) JICA strengthens the cooperation with WTO and UNCTAD in implementing trade-related technical assistance and capacity building activities
JICA has already started a series of workshops in APEC region on the implementation of the WTO Agreements such as TBT, AD/CVD and GATS.
This year, JICA plans to newly conduct several capacity building programmes in Geneva on the Singapore issues in cooperation with WTO and UNCTAD.
(3) Japan's assistance on a wide range of trade and development issues
Japan provides significant amount of Official Development Assistance to developing countries (total amount of US$13.5 billion in 2000, and US$15.3 billion in 1999). Among them, Japan's contribution to the multilateral, regional and bilateral trade-related technical assistance for the past 2 years amounts to US$ 107.8 million. In particular, Japan launched, 2 years ago, an extensive human resource development program which trains 2,500 people from developing countries over 5 years to enhance their trade-related capacity.
For more background information on Japan's contribution in this field, see the respective web sites and previous communications to the press:
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