UAE to host World Trade Organisation Ministerial Conference in 2024

The UAE will host the 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan made the announcement on Twitter.

The UAE is honoured to have been selected as the host country for the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in 2024. We look forward to facilitating constructive dialogue between WTO nations and strengthening international cooperation for a sustainable economic future.

— محمد بن زايد (@MohamedBinZayed) December 19, 2022

The conference will be held in Abu Dhabi in the first quarter of 2024, and will follow the COP28 climate conference, official news agency WAM reported.

At the 12th Ministerial Conference, several multinational agreements on issues such as pandemic preparedness, intellectual property rights, the removal of food export prohibitions and fisheries subsidies were reached.

“The 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation reflects the UAE’s status as a key facilitator of trade and investment between all four corners of the world,” said Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy.

“The leadership of the UAE has placed trade front and centre of our new economic vision, recognising its role as a catalyst to growth, inward investment, talent attraction and social, cultural and industrial development. Our Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements with India, Israel and Indonesia, and those that will be concluded with other dynamic economies around the world in the coming months, reflect our belief in multilateralism and our commitment to creating new opportunities for our exporters, industrialists, manufacturers and investors.”

The UAE signed three comprehensive economic partnership agreements this year, one each with India, Israel and Indonesia.

The agreement with India was signed in February this year, while the pact with Israel was inked in May.

Read: UAE and India sign Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement

Read: UAE, Israel sign comprehensive economic partnership agreement

The agreement with Indonesia, meanwhile, was signed in July.

Read: UAE, Indonesia sign comprehensive economic partnership agreement

“MC13 has the potential to deliver meaningful reform for the WTO and help it reclaim its role as the sole, authoritative custodian of global trade,” added Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade.

“We look forward to welcoming the leadership of the WTO’s 164 member states and taking a prominent role in re-energizing the global trading system, future-proofing it for the 21st century and ensuring it remains an engine of inclusive, sustainable economic development.”

Trade has shaped the #UAE’s history and now the UAE will shape the future of trade. In 2024, the #UAE will host the @WTO‘s 13th Ministerial Conference and lead discussions on multilateralism, digital trade and inclusive development – and confirm our role as a global trading hub. pic.twitter.com/1S1p0OeQq5

— د. ثاني الزيودي (@ThaniAlZeyoudi) December 19, 2022

“The UAE is transforming its economy, accelerating its industrial output, integrating advanced technology to foster the industries of the future, and developing new capabilities in sectors such as renewable energy, and space exploration,” added Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.

“We need an efficient, regulated and digitally enabled global trading system to fully capitalise on these opportunities, and we are eager to take a lead on the discussions that will shape the future of trade. MC13 provides an ideal platform for the UAE to engage the international trading community to help build more resilient, effective supply chains.”