New Zealand advances safe and inclusive trade with new contribution to STDF
WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed New Zealand's contribution:
"We warmly welcome New Zealand's contribution to the STDF partnership. This will help developing countries implement international standards, strengthen transparency and roll out digital tools like ePing and e-SPS certification. The STDF helps reduce the time and costs of trade while creating new opportunities for farmers, businesses and consumers."
Vangelis Vitalis, Deputy Secretary, Trade and Economic, at New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, said:
"New Zealand is pleased to support the Standards and Trade Development Facility's work to strengthen food safety and animal and plant health systems in developing countries, particularly its work with Pacific Island Countries in our region. Strong SPS systems, greater transparency and effective implementation of international standards help build resilient economies, expand trade opportunities and support sustainable development. We are proud to be part of the STDF partnership."
This contribution expands the opportunities for New Zealand to share its sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) expertise with the STDF partnership and support innovative and scalable SPS solutions that benefit stakeholders in developing countries, as well as the private sector and consumers globally. The funding will support governments and private sector stakeholders to implement SPS measures based on international standards, consistent with the WTO's SPS Agreement. This includes, for instance, projects to strengthen regional risk-based approaches and to pilot the use of new digital tools to facilitate safe trade.
The STDF's partnership delivers a triple win for consumers, governments and the private sector, benefitting people in developing countries and least developed countries (LDCs), while also supporting access to safe and affordable food for consumers and markets globally and contributing to food security.
The STDF is a global partnership that brings together organizations working on trade, agriculture and health to strengthen SPS capacity in developing countries and LDCs. It was established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Bank Group, the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), which hosts and manages the partnership.
Contributing to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the STDF's activities promote safe and inclusive trade while supporting sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction, food security and resilience to climate change.
Since its creation, the STDF's mutually beneficial partnership has funded more than 275 projects and project preparation grants, helping countries pilot, scale up and share effective SPS approaches that benefit developing economies and LDCs, as well as the private sector and consumers globally.
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