The Standards and Trade Development Facility will receive a four-year EUR 2.85 million contribution from Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (2022-2025).
With the objective of assisting them in meeting global standards for food safety, animal and plant health, the fund will facilitate secure and inclusive agricultural trade in developing and least-developed nations.
Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was cited as stating in a statement, “I thank Germany for its generous and longstanding support to developing countries and LDCs in strengthening their compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary measures.
“When farmers are empowered to meet these standards, it improves access to global and regional markets, paving the way for increased sales and incomes. Enhanced SPS capacity also means more sustainable, resilient food systems, which contributes to food security at home and globally.”
Speaking, Germany’s Ambassador to the WTO, Dr Bettina Waldmann, said, “More than ever, it is time to show that WTO members help each other to fulfil their obligations, strengthen their know-how and further develop their trade capacities. Germany is pleased to see the STDF working fruitfully in the interest of all, enhancing everybody’s health and promoting sustainable agriculture.”
By lowering trade barriers and trade costs in developing nations, Waldmann explained, Germany’s contribution to the STDF would enhance food safety systems.
The funding, according to her, would also improve the STDF’s knowledge platform, which links various stakeholders from the fields of agriculture, health, trade, and development to identify and share best practices.
According to her, “Developing countries and LDCs are encouraged to apply to the STDF for SPS project and project preparation grants. The next deadline for submission of funding proposals is 24 February 2023.”
According to her, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture contributed €150,000 to the STDF in 2022.
