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Sweden pledges over $21million in support for ITC

13 diciembre 2017
ITC News
Swedish EU Affairs and Trade Minister Ann Linde announced funding to ITC for four-year period

The Government of Sweden has announced that it will provide more than $21 million (182.5 million Swedish krona) in support for the International Trade Centre (ITC) over a four-year period. 


Sweden’s Minister for EU Affairs and Trade Ann Linde made the announcement on the margins of the World Trade Organization’s 11th Ministerial Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during a meeting with ITC Executive Director Arancha González.

‘To reach the sustainable development goals of Agenda 2030, we need to partner with business, in a way that promotes sustainability, poverty reduction and gender equality,’ Ms. Linde said.

‘ITC is an important actor on the global arena connecting institutions, organizations and SME’s to create inclusive economic growth. ITC is also a forerunner in connecting trade, gender and migration issues. We are looking forward to a continued fruitful cooperation in the years to come.’

A component of the Swedish funding will be dedicated to supporting the green economy in developing countries and the  support will also be directed towards ITC programmes and projects targeting the economic empowerment of women (SheTrades), transparency in trade and other interventions aimed at inclusive growth and poverty reduction.

Welcoming the Swedish announcement, Ms. González said: ‘Sweden is a longstanding partner of ITC and we are extremely pleased with its continued confidence in the organization. This support will enable us to ensure long-term stability in our operations and achieve an even greater impact in developing countries to help them better use trade as a tool for growth, job creation and lifting more people out of poverty in our joint effort to leave no one behind.’