Page 506 - MOE ENGLISH PR REPORT - FEBRUARY 2024

UAE to welcome 175 ministers, senior

officials for WTO’s 13th Ministerial

Conference

The UAE is gearing up to host the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the
World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Abu Dhabi between 26th and 29th
February, 2024.

This pivotal event brings together ministers and senior officials from around
the world for discussions on the rules and regulations governing international
trade.

The gathering of 175 Member States, private sector leaders, NGOs, and civil
society representatives will allow the global community to work together
toward advancing a more efficient, sustainable, and inclusive trading system.

Ministerial Conferences are the highest decision-making body of the WTO and
serve as crucial forums for member states to address trade challenges, refine
trade rules, and set the agenda for global trade policy.

The 13th Ministerial Conference is set to build on the progress achieved
during MC12, held in Geneva in June 2022, which made substantive
breakthroughs on fisheries subsidies, food insecurity, and e-commerce. Focus
areas will include improving the ability of developing countries and Least
Developed Countries (LDCs) to access the global trading system, intellectual
property, and WTO’s dispute resolution mechanism.

The forum will also provide an opportunity to explore greater collaboration and
partnership with non-governmental organisations, the private sector, and civil
society to enhance the effectiveness of trade policies and programmes via a
series of side events.

These include the TradeTech Global Forum, promoting the use of technology
in global supply chains, and sessions on trade facilitation in partnership with
Etihad Credit Insurance, trade finance with HSBC, SMEs with the Abu Dhabi
Department of Economic Development (ADDED), the WLP Logistics
Challenges with DP World, Future of Cargo in collaboration with Emirates,
and Sustainable Trade Africa.

https://www.mediaoffice.abudhabi/en/economy/uae-to-welcome-175-ministers-senior-officials-for-
wtos-13th-ministerial-conference/