Abu Dhabi Convenes 53rd PCWTO Steering Committee Meeting With Global Trade Focus

The Steering Committee of the Abu Dhabi Session of the Parliamentary Conference on the World Trade Organisation (PCWTO) convened its 53rd session at the Abu Dhabi Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), marking a significant step towards fostering global trade partnerships. The session, held under the chairmanship of Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade and Chairman of the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13), saw the gathering of key figures in international trade and finance.

In a collaborative effort, the Federal National Council (FNC) is set to host the Abu Dhabi Session of the PCWTO on 25th February at ADNEC, in partnership with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the European Parliament (EP). This annual conference aligns with WTO Ministerial Conferences, aiming to unite legislators from various parliaments who are experts in international trade and finance.

The primary goal of this conference is to encourage parliamentary action to support global trade that benefits all. Dr. Al Zeyoudi emphasized the crucial role parliamentary institutions play in supporting government efforts to implement ministerial decisions and enhance international cooperation and trade agreements.

The meeting was chaired by Marwan Obeid Al Muhairi, member of the Steering Committee and Rapporteur of the PCWTO. It was attended by Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the IPU; Bernd Lange, Chair of the Committee on International Trade, European Parliament and co-Chair of the Parliamentary Conference on the WTO; along with representatives from international organisations, states, and committee members.

Participants expressed appreciation for the UAE's role in hosting the conference and its global efforts to promote trade partnerships. The session concluded with discussions on the outcome document of PCWTO, reflecting a collective commitment to advancing global trade initiatives.

With inputs from WAM