"DG Okonjo-Iweala urges members to explore new ways to revitalize WTO at South-South event"

DG Okonjo-Iweala noted that in a changing global economy, LDCs can benefit from their demographic dividend and rich endowments of critical minerals. She stressed that the evolving trading landscape offers new opportunities for LDCs to integrate into regional and global markets in areas such as services and digital trade.

DG Okonjo-Iweala said: "WTO reform will be key for helping LDCs trade, grow economically and develop. We need to have a modern WTO that can help transform your economies."

The DG also highlighted members' efforts aimed at advancing negotiations on trade and development, agriculture and fisheries subsidies related to overcapacity and overfishing. She also outlined negotiations in the Work Programme on E-commerce, including the moratorium on e-commerce customs duties. In addition, she noted the opportunities provided by the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement for attracting investment and adding value to LDCs' exports.


DG Okonjo-Iweala also recognized the importance of


the

Cotton Partnership for advancing LDCs' integration into global trade.

The event saw the participation of around 60 government representatives from LDCs and development partners who discussed WTO reform and LDCs' trade and development priorities.

The General Council Chair, Ambassador Saqer Abdullah Almoqbel of Saudi Arabia, said: "In these challenging times, the world needs the WTO - especially its LDC members - now more than ever. The WTO must keep pace with the changing global landscape. With your active engagement, I trust that we will succeed."

The WTO reform facilitator, Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, said: "I will share two main messages today: let us all lean in on the ongoing reform process and let us broaden our perspectives on trade-led development in the WTO."

Ambassador Muhammadou Kah of The Gambia said: "With MC14 just a few weeks away, reform discussions must move to practical and pragmatic convergence. For the LDC Group, reform must strengthen the development dimension of the WTO. At MC14, we must demonstrate progress on trade and development and on LDC priorities, including LDC graduation."

Ambassador Yongjie Li of China said: "Despite current trade tensions and global uncertainties, the WTO remains an indispensable anchor of stability. Strengthening the rules-based multilateral trading system requires meaningful WTO reform. MC14 represents a pivotal moment to renew our commitment to significant reforms. It must also deliver outcomes focused on development.

Representing one of the key pillars of



China's LDCs and Accessions Programme



,


the



South-South Dialogue on LDCs and Development



aims to strengthen LDCs' participation in the multilateral trading system. There are currently 44 LDCs, of which



37 are WTO members and five are in the process of accession.

More information on the event is available



here.