The 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organization (WTO) commenced this Monday in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, drawing ministers of economy, trade, and development, alongside representatives from global economic and trade organizations. The UAE’s minister of state for foreign trade, Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, delivered a key speech highlighting the UAE’s dedication to fostering consensus on global economic issues and its ambition to become a pivotal trade link worldwide. Al Zeyoudi underscored the UAE’s support for the WTO’s multilateral trading system, which he credited as a catalyst for sustainable global economic growth and an enhancer of people’s livelihoods across the globe.
The conference marked a significant milestone with the official admission of Comoros and Timor-Leste into the WTO, expanding its membership to 166 countries. The ministerial conference, which is the WTO’s supreme decision-making entity, plays a critical role in propelling negotiations on crucial matters, overseeing the organization’s day-to-day operations, and setting strategic directions for the multilateral trading system’s future.