Japan strengthens partnership with ITC to support Ukraine’s economic resilience, Africa-wide free trade

(Geneva) – The International Trade Centre (ITC) today announced its new funding commitment from Japan.

The $1.5 million contribution will be used for two strategic initiatives: one aimed at supporting conflict-affected communities and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Ukraine and another focused on advancing implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

‘We prioritize support to those who need it most,’ said ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton. ‘Whether that means training displaced persons to gain digital skills to earn incomes in the midst of the conflict in Ukraine or setting in place business-friendly policies so small businesses across Africa can export across borders, this latest funding from Japan will enable us to expand our work in these areas, as part of our long-term, fruitful partnership.’

H.E. Mr. Naoki Hikota, Japan’s Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, said: ‘Japan recognizes that supporting conflict-affected communities, including women entrepreneurs and MSMEs, is fundamental to livelihood, recovery and reconstruction of the Ukrainian civil society. Furthermore, we are committed to facilitating the effective implementation of the AfCFTA, creating an enabling business environment through implementing predictable, effective, and highly harmonized regulatory framework.’

The first initiative, ‘Ukraine: Building economic resilience of conflict-affected individuals and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs),’ aims to bolster the resilience of the displacement- and conflict-affected economy. The project will enhance alternative income-generation by conflict-affected individuals, including internally displaced persons and women, by strengthening professional skills – in digital domains such as affiliate marketing, social media marketing and IT project management – as well as entrepreneurial and soft skills. To support diversification of the local economy, the project will also build the capacity of Ukrainian diplomats abroad and local business experts in trade intelligence and market linkages for small businesses, including using tools such as Trade Map and Global Trade Helpdesk. The project will also assist in incorporating SME Trade Academy materials into Diia.Business, a national one-stop-shop platform of the Ukrainian Government.

The second initiative, ‘Accelerating trade and investment under the AfCFTA (ATIA),’ will be implemented in partnership with the AfCFTA Secretariat to facilitate policy reforms to implement the free trade agreement protocols on trade in services, investment and digital trade, contributing to a conducive business environment for African and Japanese companies operating in or planning expansion into Africa, in particular Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Tunisia. Coinciding with the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), it will also foster business connections between Japanese and African companies in the tech sector, underpinning the conference theme of ‘co-creating innovative solutions with Africa’.

Japan has consistently supported ITC’s mission, with total contributions exceeding $8 million since 2017. Beyond the aforementioned projects, Japan is also funding an ITC project supporting Ethiopia’s accession to the World Trade Organization and the SheTrades initiative, which promotes women’s economic empowerment through trade.

Note for the editor

About the International Trade Centre – ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

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