Global Leaders Gather In Abu Dhabi For WTO Parliamentary Conference Session

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) recently hosted the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organisation (PCWTO), inaugurated by Saqr Ghobash, Speaker of the Federal National Council (FNC). This significant event, a collaborative effort between the FNC, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the European Parliament (EP), saw the participation of Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Chairman of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13), alongside a gathering of ministers and nearly 300 parliamentarians.

In his opening address, Ghobash underscored the pivotal role of the agreements forged during the Abu Dhabi Session in shaping a hopeful future and bolstering international trade. He drew attention to the synergy between MC13 and COP28, expressing optimism that MC13 would leverage outcomes from its predecessor to tackle challenges in information exchange, data, and goods movement.

Dr. Al Zeyoudi highlighted trade's integral contribution to global economic recovery and resilience. He stressed the necessity for legislators to grasp the complexities of global trade issues and championed the multilateral trade system's advancement as outlined in the conference's final statement.

Martin Chungong, IPU's Secretary-General, lauded the UAE's dedication to ensuring MC13's success and called for enhanced collaboration between parliaments and governments to fortify international trade frameworks. Bernd Lange, Chair of the EP's Committee on International Trade and PCWTO Co-Chair, emphasized parliamentarians' critical role in addressing trade-related discussions at both the PCWTO and MC13.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO, focused on the organization's people-centric initiatives. She advocated for parliamentary support in tackling living costs and poverty challenges while highlighting digital economies and partnerships as catalysts for global trade improvement.

The Abu Dhabi Session of the PCWTO served as a platform for parliamentarians and government officials to deliberate on trade's future and devise solutions to global challenges. The event reinforced the significance of a multilateral trade system and parliamentarians' role in supporting WTO efforts.

With inputs from WAM