https://arab.news/2yvvt
- Becomes first Arab and Middle Eastern delegate to hold the position
RIYADH: The General Council of the World Trade Organization unanimously appointed Saudi Arabia’s Permanent Representative to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term on Wednesday.
His appointment marks a milestone for the region, as he becomes the first Arab and Middle Eastern delegate to hold the position, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The WTO General Council plays a role in overseeing the organization’s operations between its biennial ministerial conferences.
Under Al-Moqbel’s presidency, the council is expected to address a range of critical global trade issues, with preparations for the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference, set to take place in Cameroon in March 2026, high on the agenda.
Other priorities will include advancing essential WTO reforms, particularly concerning its dispute settlement mechanism, and progressing negotiations on the second phase of the Fisheries Subsidy Agreement.
Additionally, discussions will focus on key areas such as agriculture, food security and development concerns, while efforts will also be made to integrate multilateral agreements, including the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the E-Commerce Agreement, into the WTO framework, SPA added.
Commenting on his appointment, Al-Moqbel hailed the significance of Saudi Arabia’s leadership within the WTO, stating that it reflected the Kingdom’s growing role in the international economic landscape.
He emphasized that the Kingdom would leverage its global economic influence to strengthen multilateral trade cooperation and drive meaningful reforms within the WTO.