Dr. Majed AlQasabi, the Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the National Competitiveness Center, heads a delegation of around 30 officials from 20 government agencies to a high-level workshop. This event, organized by the National Competitiveness Center in collaboration with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), will be held on December 18-19 in Vienna, Austria.
The workshop, which will explore cooperation in international trade law, including aspects of the global trade law, trade and transport, and digital commerce, will see participation from key figures. These include Dr. Iman AlMutairi, the Deputy Minister of Commerce and CEO of the National Competitiveness Center, Dr. Abdullah Tawlah, Saudi Ambassador to Austria, and Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary-General of UNCITRAL.
The objective of this high-level workshop, led by international trade law experts from UNCITRAL, is to align Saudi commercial legislation with the highest international standards supporting trade and sustainable development. This initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030's objectives, focusing on enhancing cross-border trade facilitation, especially in the realms of the digital economy, transportation, and logistics.
The workshop will provide updates on the latest workings of UNCITRAL and include sessions on the legislative challenges of the international trade law and the necessary legislative framework to position Saudi Arabia as a global center for trade and logistics services.
In light of the recent advancements in digital commerce, the third session of the workshop will delve into the European Union's latest legislation on data, internal audit, and other digital technologies. This session will also explore collaborative opportunities between EU member states and non-member countries, current international negotiations on digital trade, Digital Economy Partnership Agreements (DEPAs), and similar digital accords, along with regulations concerning digital assets. Additionally, the session will cover the legislative developments in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi delegation is composed of representatives from various sectors, including the Ministries of Justice, Commerce, Economy and Planning, Finance, Transport and Logistics, the Experts Commission at the Council of Ministers, the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises, the General Authority for Ports, the General Authority for Foreign Trade, the Capital Market Authority, the Saudi Central Bank, the Bureau of Grievances, the National Competitiveness Center, the Bankruptcy Committee, and the Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants and Professionals. They will engage in discussions aimed at leveraging Saudi Arabia's benefit from UNCITRAL's rich experience in drafting international trade laws.