Finland gives €6 million to support inclusive trade in the world's poorest countries

The Government of Finland is providing its first instalment of €6 million as part of its €10 million pledge for the second phase of the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF): Trade for LDC Development programme. The contribution will help the world's poorest countries to realize their trade potential, offering a route out of poverty and a path towards sustainable and inclusive development.

Finnish AMB and EIF4, photo: EIF

Finland is a leading champion of the EIF, playing an active role in promoting the Aid for Trade agenda in the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including highlighting the importance of empowering women in the LDCs. Their commitment has been reinforced by the latest contribution to the EIF Trust Fund, supported by 24 Donors. Finland provided €11.3 million for Phase One of the EIF.

The EIF is a global partnership involving the LDCs, Donors and International Organizations, which provides coordinated technical and financial support to build trade capacity in the LDCs. 

H.E. Ms Terhi Hakala, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Finland in Geneva, states,"We are happy to see that the second phase of the EIF is now well on track. We look forward to Finland's contribution through the EIF supporting LDCs to benefit from international trade. Inclusive trade plays an important role in eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development."

Mr Ratnakar Adhikari, the Executive Director of the Executive Secretariat for the EIF, comments, "Finland is a committed and valued EIF development partner. I highly commend Finland's continued and generous support to the EIF Trust Fund, especially at this critical juncture, to help the poorest countries to collectively reach the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, leaving no‑one behind. This money will be utilized for helping the LDCs to become active players in the global trading system, whilst at the same time using trade as a development tool to provide jobs and incomes for poor communities, especially women and youth."

Notes to the editors

The EIF is a multi-donor trust fund, which provides coordinated financial and technical support to build trade capacity in all 48 LDCs and three graduated countries. The EIF programme administratively housed within the WTO is the only global Aid for Trade programme exclusively designed for the LDCs and is, therefore, uniquely placed to assist countries to develop sustainable trade strategies, which have a positive impact on people's lives through the promotion of private sector development and job and income opportunities.

For further information, please contact: [email protected] and www.enhancedif.org(Link to another website.)