INCLUSIVE TRADE
The WTO Chairs Programme Annual Conference brought to light the pivotal role of academic research in ensuring that trade benefits all segments of society. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the program’s impact on making trade inclusive for women, young people, indigenous populations, and the environment.
Held in Geneva, the conference united members of the Chairs Programme from around the world to enhance collaborative efforts aimed at reducing inequalities in developing economies. Okonjo-Iweala described the network as the WTO’s “eyes and ears,” offering essential insights into real-world challenges to guide the WTO’s agenda.
The conference discussions centered on various trade-related projects involving research, curriculum development, and policy outreach, executed with the WTO Secretariat. Key activities included efforts by the Informal Working Group on Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises and the Informal Working Group on Trade and Gender, both integral to mainstreaming gender and supporting businesses in trade dialogues. The contributions of several chairs to the WTO Gender Research Hub were also highlighted.
Okonjo-Iweala referenced the mandate from the 13th Ministerial Conference to advance work on trade and gender, emphasizing the Chairs network’s innovative ideas and perspectives. Comprising 35 universities, the program aims to position the WTO for future challenges while addressing emerging global issues.
Trudi Hartzenberg, Academic Advisory Board Member of the Chairs Programme and Executive Director of the Trade Law Centre in South Africa, stressed the critical need for a multilateral trading system that works for all. She highlighted the importance of bold, innovative steps backed by evidence-based research to eliminate poverty, inequality, and exclusion, ensuring trade opportunities are accessible to marginalized communities.
Moving forward, the Chairs network will focus on projects related to digital trade, environmental sustainability, export diversification, the WTO Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, food security, and global and regional value chains. These initiatives will further the network’s mission to make trade a tool for inclusive growth and development.
For more information on the Chairs Program, please visit https://bit.ly/3j8XzUT
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