Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development is contributing EUR 2.85m to the Standards and Trade Development Facility over a period of four years (2022-2025).

The fund is to facilitate safe and inclusive agricultural trade in developing and least-developed countries aimed at helping them to meet international food safety, animal, and plant health standards.

The World Trade Organisation Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was quoted in a statement as saying,  “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.”