Austria recognizes the importance of trade facilitation as an important contribution to increasing trade as well as creating a better investment climate. Believing that trade can have a significant impact on sustainable development, boost economic growth and reduce poverty; Austria is highly committed to support developing countries in expanding their trade capacities, facilitate access to new markets and integrate into regional and global value chains. While having been contributing to trade related technical assistance activities only on a multilateral basis, Austria is currently not providing bilateral technical assistance projects on trade facilitation. Austria donated however 100.000 € to the TFAF as soon as the Facility became operational.