MC

The current WTO conference discussed a number of important issues related to agriculture, fisheries support, trade in services, e-commerce, investment facilitation and SMEs. The joint declaration highlighted the importance of the multilateral trading system, since it is the most successful way to avail of the opportunities and to meet the challenges facing the world trade, stressing the importance of maintaining and strengthening the multilateral trading system, including the settlement of trade disputes. All that for promoting and boosting the world trade, which is based on openness, transparency and integration within the WTO.

Meanwhile, the Director General of WTO, Roberto Azevedo, welcomed the joint declaration and the attendants’ support to WTO, saying: "This is a great offer for the commitment to the idea of free trade as a powerful factor for welfare and for the multilateral trading system," praising and hailing the significant development in the world trade volume by 26 times, since the signing of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, which represents a cornerstone for World Trade Organization.

In that regard, H.E. the Minister of Commerce and Investment, Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi stressed the need to bring the efforts together and endeavor to achieve the Arab countries interests in all fields,  especially the trade. This is during his heading the coordination meeting of Arab trade ministers participating in WTO meetings.

H.E. Dr. Al-Qasabi pointed out that the importance of this meeting comes from the keenness to promote the joint Arab action at all levels, saying "Through this meeting, we look forward to discussing the interests and aspirations of the Arab Group, under the 11th  Ministerial Conference and whatever comes later, we would like to reassure the Arab group situations towards the joint issues of common concern to the World Trade Organization and its negotiations during this conference, " we would like to stress the need to support the Arab countries seeking to join the WTO and the importance of the inclusion of Arabic language in the WTO. H.E. the Minister of Commerce and Investment praised the important role played by Arab countries' missions to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva for preserving and defending the interests of Arab countries.

H.E. Dr. Al Qasabi said that the challenges and the new developments in the global scene, resulting from the economic changes and rapid technology progress have led many Member States to rearrange their economic priorities and concerns in dealing with the core negotiating issues. H.E. pointed out that some countries are seeking to develop and modify the WTO functions. This may require us to deal with the new outcomes in non-traditional ways that ultimately lead to the achievement of our individual and collective interests in a fair and balanced manner within the framework of the World Trade Organization. This action requires all Member States, including the Arab Group, to intensify and exert the efforts that may contribute to find solutions, as well as to address the challenges, also to work in a creative way that may lead to concrete and positive results that would meet the aspirations of all parties. "

H.E. Dr. Al Qasabi also met with the Director General of WTO, Mr. Roberto Azevedo, to discuss issues of interest to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. H. E. also met a number of counterpart Trade Ministers to discuss bilateral relations and the mechanism of enhancing the bilateral trade.