Australia will provide additional assistance to help the world's poorest countries benefit from global trade.

The $16 million package of initiatives will help least developed countries to modernise customs procedures, improve infrastructure, and increase producers' competitiveness.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Trade Minister Craig Emerson announced the contribution as the World Trade Organization's Eighth Ministerial Conference got underway in Geneva, Switzerland.

Dr Emerson, who is taking part in the conference, said Australia's commitment to LDCs would help them play an active role in, and benefit from, the global trading system. He said the program to help LDCs included a pledge by Australia, made by Prime Minister Julia Gillard in October, to provide those countries with access for all products into Australian markets free of tariffs and quotas.

 

Australia's new package of multilateral trade-related assistance will support the WTO's Global Trust Fund to train developing countries to negotiate and implement trade agreements, and to participate effectively in the multilateral trading system. In addition, this is the first time Australia is contributing to the International Trade Centre, which assists small businesses in developing countries connect to export markets. - The Financial