Korea Contributes to WTO Global Trust Fund and WTO Chairs Programme

The Republic of Korea made a 2025 contribution of CHF 271,000 to the WTO to help build capacity in developing economies and least-developed countries (LDCs), encompassing CHF 145,000 to the Global Trust Fund and CHF 126,000 to help finance the WTO Chairs Programme.

Key Points

· Contribution (2025):

o Total: CHF 271,000

o CHF 145,000 to the WTO Global Trust Fund

o CHF 126,000 to the WTO Chairs Programme

Purpose of Funds

· Global Trust Fund (est. 2001): Supports WTO technical cooperation activities through extra-budgetary donations.

· WTO Chairs Programme: Assists academic institutions in developing economies with trade-related research and training for policymakers and stakeholders.

Statements

· WTO Director-General: Welcomed Korea’s support as an investment in knowledge, inclusiveness, and capacity-building for developing and least-developed countries.

· Ambassador Sung-yo Choi (Republic of Korea): Emphasized Korea’s commitment to strengthening trade-related capacity and inclusive participation in the multilateral trading system.

Long-Term Engagement

· Korea has contributed over CHF 8 million to WTO Trust Funds over the past 20+ years.

· Reflects Korea’s sustained support for WTO technical assistance and capacity-building efforts.

[ABS News Service/11.02.2026]

The Global Trust Fund was established in December 2001 to receive unearmarked extra-budgetary donations from WTO members to finance technical cooperation activities carried out by the WTO. The WTO Chairs Programme provides support to academic institutions in developing economies to undertake trade-related research and deliver training courses for the benefit of policymakers and other stakeholders. 

The Director-General welcomed the contribution, saying: "The Republic of Korea's contributions to the Global Trust Fund and the WTO Chairs Programme are an important investment in knowledge, capacity-building and inclusiveness. I welcome this support, which helps ensure that developing economies and least-developed countries can participate more effectively in the multilateral trading system."

Sung-yo Choi, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, stated: "The Republic of Korea is pleased to support the WTO's Global Trust Fund and the WTO Chairs Programme. These contributions reflect our strong commitment to strengthening trade-related capacity in developing economies and least-developed countries, and to promoting informed, inclusive participation in the multilateral trading system."

Overall, the Republic of Korea has contributed over CHF 8 million to WTO Trust Funds over more than 20 years. These contributions form part of the Republic of Korea's long-standing engagement in supporting WTO technical assistance and capacity-building efforts.