AITIC was established in Geneva in 1998 as an association, and later transformed into an intergovernmental organisation in 2004. AITIC’s objective is to assist the less-advantaged countries (i.e. resource-constrained developing countries and economies in transition, with a priority to the least-developed countries and countries without permanent representation in Geneva) to effectively participate in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and in the multilateral trading system. Through trade-related technical assistance, AITIC provides better understanding of trade policy issues and the multilateral trading system and prepares its Members for negotiations and other activities of the WTO.

AITIC is currently funded by four Sponsoring Members: Ireland, the Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu, Sweden and Switzerland. In addition, the UK Department for International Development (DFID) has provided a voluntary contribution to the Agency for 2009 and 2010.

About Us: AITIC in Short