PRESS RELEASE 
 
PRESS/725 
10 October 2014 
 
(14-5785) 
WORLD BANK GROUP AND WTO JOIN FORCES TO PROVIDE TRADE FACILITATION SUPPORT 
Trade is critical for boosting growth in developing world, 
particularly in Africa 
WASHINGTON, October 10, 2014 —The World Bank Group and the World Trade Organization 
(WTO) have agreed to enhance their co-operation in assisting developing and least-developed 
countries to better utilize trade facilitation programs which can help countries reduce trade costs and more fully engage in the global economy. 
Trade facilitation aims to reduce barriers developing countries now face moving goods quickly and 
cost effectively by increasing port efficiency, improving customs and regulatory environments, and upgrading infrastructure to increase trade exports.  
“Trade is a critical component to ending pove rty and boosting shared prosperity and we are 
pleased to work with our partners at the WTO and other organizations to pursue these goals 
together,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. 
“Our own research tells us that African countries are missing out on opportunities for billions of 
dollars in extra export earnings because of existi ng trade barriers. Trade Facilitation was one of 
the important elements of the outcome from the Bali Ministerial and we remain fully committed to supporting implementation of the Bali deal as we  see the development benefits of reducing costs 
to trade,” he said.  
In July, the WTO launched its Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility, to ensure that no country is 
left behind and all are able to access the support they need. The Facility, which is designed to 
provide a fail-safe mechanism for developing countries that are unable to obtain support from the 
development community, will be available to help those countries implement the provisions of the Trade Facilitation Agreement  - agreed on by all WTO Members at their December 2013 WTO 
meetings in Bali.   
The WTO will work closely with part ner organizations, including the World Bank Group, to identify 
sources of funding and support. 
"I am delighted to announce this strengthened partnership between the World Bank Group and the 
WTO. Our coordinated efforts will ensure that deve loping countries are able to obtain the support 
they need to tackle the bottlenecks and high cost s that impact so heavily on the competitiveness 
of traders in many developing countries. Our two organizations, working closely with all our development partners, will support trade facilitation reforms that are so crucial in cutting the costs 
of trade, alleviating poverty and promoting development," said WTO Director-General Roberto 
Azevêdo. PRESS/725 
Page 2 of 2 
 
 
 Mr. Azevêdo and Dr. Kim, will discuss these matters  and other trade issues at a Flagship Seminar 
Event at the World Bank to be held today, from 4pm to 5pm. 
In June the World Bank Group announced a new Trade Facilitation Support Program to assist 
developing countries to implement the WTO's Trade Facilitation Agreement. As the world’s largest 
multilateral provider of trade-related assistance the World Bank Group is a primary partner in the effort. The Bank's support in this area is now more than $13.2 billion in grants and financing, half 
of which is focused on Trade Facilitation. 
Today's announcement confirms that the two organizations will work closely together to ensure 
that support is available for all who need it under  the terms of the Trade Facilitation Agreement. 
DG Azevêdo and President Kim have agreed that their organizations will work together to prepare 
a joint World Bank Group/WTO Study on the role of trade in ending extreme poverty while 
boosting shared prosperity next year. 
Contacts:   
In Washington: Lucie Blyth, (202) 468 6434, lblyth1@ifc.org   
In Geneva: Keith Rockwell, + 41 79 202 3271, keith.rockwell@wto.org  
 
 
END