Japan makes food and animal health donation
The donation has gone to the Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF), which helps developing countries improve their ability to meet international sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards, making it easier for them to gain access to foreign markets for agricultural and food products.
The STDF was set up by the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, the World Organization for Animal Health, and the Food and Agriculture Organization.
WTO director general Pascal Lamy said: “Compliance with international standards, especially in the SPS area, which is technically and scientifically complicated, can be often an obstacle for developing countries to fully participate in the multilateral trading system. I welcome Japan’s donation, which will facilitate developing countries’ integration in the global economy.”
The donation brings Japan’s total contributions to WTO trust funds to over $9m.
“This contribution is part of Japan’s continuous efforts, together with its bilateral assistance, in supporting developing countries, through projects and programmes of the STDF. Improving their participation in international trade is key, especially in these difficult times, as trade is an important engine for sustainable growth and development,” said Japan’s ambassador to the WTO Yoichi Otabe.