Austria has contributed funding of EUR 200,000 (approximately CHF 187,000) for 2026 to the WTO Chairs Programme, the World Trade Organization’s flagship technical assistance initiative aimed at strengthening academic capacity in developing and least-developed country economies. The contribution supports the programme’s mission of building long-term trade policy expertise through sustained engagement with higher education institutions.
Academic institutions selected under the WTO Chairs Programme receive financial support over a four-year period to enhance their capabilities across three core pillars: research, curriculum development, and outreach. After completing the funded phase, institutions remain part of the global Chairs network, which currently includes 39 universities and research centres worldwide, fostering continued collaboration and knowledge exchange on international trade issues.
The WTO Director-General emphasized that Austria’s contribution represents a strategic investment in knowledge creation and capacity-building, noting that long-term support for academic institutions helps establish a strong global network of trade experts who can inform policymakers, educate students, and engage stakeholders across developing and least-developed countries.
Austria reaffirmed its commitment to the programme through statements from Federal Minister for Economy, Energy and Tourism Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, who highlighted the WTO Chairs Programme’s role in strengthening trade expertise and promoting inclusive participation in the multilateral trading system through research, education, and outreach activities.
The 2026 contribution also reflects Austria’s broader, long-standing support for WTO technical assistance efforts. Over the past two decades, Austria has contributed more than CHF 6 million to WTO trust funds, demonstrating sustained engagement in capacity-building initiatives aimed at promoting fair, inclusive, and effective global trade governance.
