Germany commits €2m support to ITC in 2021 (en)

(Geneva) – The Government of Germany today committed €2 million in funding to support the work of the International Trade Centre (ITC) in 2021 to foster sustainable economic development by improving the international competitiveness and export performance of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

The agreement was signed in Geneva during a virtual ceremony by Ambassador Hans-Peter Jugel, Germany’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, and ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton.

Germany has been a longstanding partner of ITC having provided financial support through annual grant agreements since 2003. The latest German grant agreement will enable ITC to continue strengthening developing countries’ international competitiveness and place emphasis on creating more enabling business environments.
The grant will be deployed to support ITC’s work towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, in particular in the areas of environmental and social sustainability, poverty reduction and the creation of economic opportunities for marginalized groups, gender and the economic empowerment of women, and development impact, including by increasing information on trade and transparency in trade.

‘ITC and Germany have had a strong and longstanding partnership. I thank Germany for their 2021 financial commitment which will be essential in our work to build back better and bolder for the MSMEs that will be at the core of recovery’ said ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton. ‘ITC will continue to place a premium on supporting the base of the pyramid and the most vulnerable including women, youth and poor communities.’

Ambassador Jugel said: ‘ITC has a unique role when it comes to improving the international competitiveness of MSMEs. With a view to achieving the SDGs by 2030, Germany’s continued financial commitment will support key areas of ITCs work, including environmental and social sustainability and the economic empowerment of women.’