The 10th Global Review of Aid for Trade, held on October 29-30, 2026, at the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters in Geneva, brought together ministers, ambassadors, and development partners to discuss trade, investment, and innovation. Djibouti's Minister of Commerce and Tourism, Orbis Helaf Orbis, participated in the high-level meeting, which marked the 20th anniversary of the Aid for Trade initiative. This initiative aims to help developing countries strengthen their trade capacities, integrate into international trade, and benefit from global trade opportunities.
The meeting was themed "Better Trade, Better Life," and featured a presidential conference by Alassane Ouattara, President of Côte d'Ivoire, on the role of investments and strategic partnerships in economic development. Minister Orbis also attended a high-level lunch with several trade ministers, including President Ouattara and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General. The discussions focused on leveraging trade, investment, and innovation to drive economic transformation and job creation.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Minister Orbis participated in a discussion on investment opportunities in least developed countries, organized under the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF). He presented Djibouti's strategic investments in port, rail, road, and digital infrastructure, highlighting their potential to enhance connectivity, consolidate the country's position as a regional logistics hub, and attract new investments.
The Djiboutian delegation also emphasized the potential of free zones, the Djibouti-Ethiopia corridor, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to open up new perspectives for the national economy. The focus was on transforming these advantages into concrete opportunities for diversification, development of small and medium-sized enterprises, and job creation. Special attention was paid to women's entrepreneurship and youth economic inclusion.
Minister Orbis also met with the Director-General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to discuss projects aimed at strengthening Djibouti's national innovation and creativity ecosystem. The initiatives include the creation of an Innovation and Creativity Academy, modernization of the intellectual property legal framework, and protection and valorization of national products, such as salt and honey.
The WIPO Director-General welcomed the initiatives presented by the Djiboutian side and reaffirmed the organization's support for their implementation. This development is encouraging for Djibouti's efforts to promote creativity, entrepreneurship, and valorization of its productive heritage. The Djiboutian delegation included Ambassador and Permanent Representative to Geneva, Kadra Ahmed Hassan, and other officials.
Through this mission, Djibouti reaffirmed its commitment to consolidating international partnerships and mobilizing multilateral cooperation instruments to support its economic ambitions. The Geneva discussions highlighted several complementary levers to accompany the diversification of the national economy, including infrastructure, free zones, trade integration, and intellectual property.
Key points
- Djibouti's Minister of Commerce and Tourism promotes the country's economic potential and strategic investments at the 10th Global Review of Aid for Trade in Geneva.
- The country aims to leverage trade, investment, and innovation to drive economic transformation and job creation.
- Djibouti seeks to strengthen its partnerships and mobilize multilateral cooperation instruments to support its economic ambitions.
