ABU DHABI, UAE – Emirates Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has announced that the UAE will provide a US$10 million grant to support key initiatives of the World Trade Organization (WTO), whose 13th Ministerial Conference is being held here.
Sheikh Abdullah said that the grant to be provided by the UAE will be allocated to the Fisheries Funding Mechanism, the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), and the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund that will be launched during MC13.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed expressed pride that the UAE is hosting and chairing the WTO’s MC13, the organization’s highest decision-making body, from February 26-29.
He welcomed all leaders, ministers and representatives of the 166 member states to Abu Dhabi for crucial negotiations on key trade issues and discussions on how to enhance and modernize the rules of the global trading system.
He also congratulated the Republic of the Comoros and the Republic of Timor-Leste on their accession to the WTO, which will be officially announced during MC13.
Sheikh Abdullah expressed his hope that more countries will be able to join the organization and benefit from the multilateral trading system.
He said that through its Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) program, the UAE is now at the heart of international trade and will continue to expand its economic cooperation with the world.
He encouraged representatives of all member states to collaborate and engage in constructive negotiations to modernize the global trading system and help contribute to create sustainable and inclusive economic growth to raise the standard of living for people throughout the world.
The WTO initiatives that will benefit from the UAE grant are considered to be the organization’s most important and are focused on the core goals of making global trade more sustainable and inclusive, especially with regards to developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) is the only multilateral partnership dedicated exclusively to helping LDCs by working closely with governments, development organizations, civil society and academia to use trade as an engine for growth, sustainable development and poverty reduction.
The Fisheries Funding Mechanism became operational in November 2022 and aims to provide member states technical assistance and capacity building in order to implement the rules set out in the agreement on Fisheries Subsidies that was adopted at the WTO’s 12th Ministerial Conference.
The Women Exporters in the Digital Economy (WEIDE) Fund is a joint initiative that will be launched by the WTO and the International Trade Center (ITC) during MC13.
With a budget of US$50 million, it aims to leverage digitalization to boost the competitiveness of and unlock new export markets for women-led businesses and female entrepreneurs by empowering them to access global value chains and engage in the international trading system.