GENEVA (March 1, 2018) - The world’s 47 poorest countries are home to 13% of the global population, but account for only 1% of global trade. With the launch of a new portal entitled Trade for Development News, the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) is angling to provide a voice for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) on their successes, challenges and ways forward in tackling a US$92.9 billion trade gap. Officially launched at the WTO's Committee on Trade and Development Aid for Trade meeting on February 19th, 2018, the platform has already featured stories from Samoa, Vanuatu, Cambodia, Zambia, Senegal, The Gambia, Burkina Faso and more. 

"The Trade and Development News Platform is another great contribution by the EIF to the Aid for Trade initiative.” Says Sainabou Taal, a Trade Policy Analyst in the WTO Development Division. “Serving as a one-stop-shop for LDC-specific trade and development news is a great way to allow LDCs and their partners to share experiences. This is an important milestone in enhancing the Aid for Trade initiative's objectives on knowledge creation and sharing, and illustrating impact on the ground."

The EIF is a unique global partnership between 47 LDCs, 4 Recently Graduated Countries, donors and international agencies. It is one of two partnerships to be mentioned in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG8.A, the aim of which is to: “increase Aid for Trade support for developing countries, in particular least developed countries.”

“We have an expansive agenda of partnership and we don’t want to confine ourselves but to engage in new and different ways.” Says Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director at the Executive Secretariat of the EIF. “That includes launching the Trade for Development News site to serve as a hub for information on LDCs, aid for trade and trade for development around the world in partnership with several organizations within the organic EIF structure as well as outside.”

The first print edition of Trade for Development News is available for download here, and paper copies are available at the EIF Executive Secretariat at the WTO. 

Visit the news portal: trade4devnews.enhancedif.org

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Interview opportunities: 

Ratnakar Adhikari, Executive Director, Executive Secretariat for the EIF

Annette Ssemuwemba, Deputy Executive Director, Executive Secretariat for the EIF

For more information, or to arrange interviews, contact:

Violeta Gonzalez, Outreach and Fundraising Coordinator, Executive Secretariat for the EIF, violeta.gonzalez@wto.org

Deanna Ramsay, Communications Officer, Executive Secretariat for the EIF, deannamichelle.ramsay@wto.org

Lynsey Grosfield, Managing Editor - Trade for Development News, lynsey.grosfield@wto.org

About the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF):

The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) brings together partners and resources to support the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) in using trade for poverty reduction, inclusive growth and sustainable development. The EIF is a global partnership between LDCs, donors and international agencies, underpinned by a multi-donor trust fund, which provides financial and technical support to build trade capacity in 47 LDCs and 4 recently graduated countries. The EIF is the only global Aid for Trade programme exclusively designed for LDCs and therefore is uniquely placed to assist countries to develop sustainable trade strategies. Through a multilateral approach, the EIF ensures a coordinated, transparent and efficient delivery of Aid for Trade.