WTO members attended a retreat on 16 January in Geneva to look at ways of responding to the challenges that developing economies and least-developed countries face when engaging in trade. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in her opening remarks: “The development dimension remains central to furthering the Organization’s purpose of raising living standards, creating jobs and advancing sustainable development.”
Members explore role of trade as a tool for development and the way forward
DG Okonjo-Iweala added: “The world is rapidly changing. This retreat offers a unique opportunity to begin to think differently and use this Organization to get results.”
Highlighting that the WTO can help to further global cooperation and resilience, DG Okonjo-Iweala stressed: “Many developing economies have used trade successfully as a tool to advance their economy and development. But not everyone benefited from this. How can we better use trade to advance the interests of those who have not benefited?”