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2/26/24, 9:55 AM World Trade Organisation MC13 conference: UAE prepares to welcome 175 ministers, senior officials | Markets – Gulf News
Abu Dhabi: The UAE is gearing up to host the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of

the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in Abu Dhabi between February 26-29, a media

release said on Thursday.

A pivotal event that 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 along with private sector leaders, NGOs, and
representatives of civil society will provide an opportunity for 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 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 organizations, the private sector, and civil society

to enhance the effectiveness of trade policies and programs via a series of side events.
These include the TradeTech Global Forum, which will promote 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.

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade and Chair of the MC13,

emphasised the significance of the upcoming Ministerial Conference, stating, “A

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