Lithuania is set to contribute €30,000 in 2026 to the World Trade Organization’s Global Trust Fund to support training programmes for government officials from developing economies, including Nigeria, and least-developed countries.

The contribution, valued at approximately CHF 28,000, is intended to strengthen participating countries’ knowledge of WTO rules and improve their capacity to participate effectively in the global trading system.

The WTO Global Trust Fund supports capacity-building programmes covering various areas of international trade, with a significant portion of the activities delivered at the regional level.

Organised by the WTO Secretariat, the programmes give government officials practical knowledge of WTO-related issues, including the rights and obligations of members under international trade agreements.

The training also helps officials build the expertise needed to negotiate trade rules and promote their respective countries’ economic interests.

More than 13,000 officials participated in WTO assistance in 2025

The scale of the WTO’s technical assistance activities was reflected in its 2025 participation figures, with more than 13,000 participants taking part in programmes during the year.

Officials from least-developed countries represented 29 percent of all participants.

Lithuania’s WTO Ambassador, Raimondas Alisauskas, said the country’s contribution was designed to help developing economies build resilience while positioning themselves to benefit from emerging opportunities in services and digital trade.

“As the international trading system faces serious challenges, we hope that Lithuania’s support will help developing countries strengthen their resilience to external shocks and develop their services and digital trade,” Alisauskas said.

He also said Lithuania was willing to strengthen its partnerships with developing countries and share its own experience, including lessons learned from its trade and economic reforms.

WTO chief welcomes lithuania’s latest contribution

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed the financial support, noting that the contribution would help strengthen the capacity of developing economies and least-developed countries to participate more effectively in international trade.

The funding is expected to provide participating countries with opportunities to improve their trade policy expertise, enhance their negotiating capabilities and strengthen the integration of their businesses and economies into international markets.

Lithuania’s WTO Trust Fund support exceeds €510,000

The latest contribution brings Lithuania’s cumulative financial support to the WTO Global Trust Fund since 2002 to approximately CHF 475,000.

That figure is equivalent to just over €510,000.

For Nigeria and other developing economies, trade-focused training can strengthen the ability of government officials to negotiate international agreements, understand WTO obligations and formulate policies that promote exports, digital trade and wider economic growth.

Source: msmeafrica