Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu gives TWD 4.5 million for LDCs at Ministerial Conference

The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu is donating TWD 4.5 million (approximately USD 150,000) in 2020 to help least-developed countries (LDCs) participate in the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12), which will take place on 8-11 June 2020 in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. The donation was acknowledged by WTO Deputy Director-General Yonov Frederick Agah at a meeting with Dr Yu-Ping Lien, Chargé d’affaires of the Permanent Mission of the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu to the WTO, on 21 January 2020.

The donation is to the LDC Trust Fund, which is set up for each Ministerial Conference, the WTO's top decision-making body. Contributions from WTO members help to defray the travel expenses such as air tickets and accommodation costs for officials from LDCs attending the Conference.

DDG Agah said: "The donation by the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu will help officials from LDCs participate actively in MC12 and will lay the groundwork for new market opportunities for businesses in their countries. I thank the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu for its generosity."

Dr Yu-Ping Lien said: "The WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference will be a major event for the multilateral trading system in 2020. Through our contribution, we aim to ensure that the Conference is inclusive and that the voices of the LDCs can be heard."

The Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu has donated just over CHF 2 million to the various WTO trust funds since it joined the Organization nearly 20 years ago.