The Moroccan ambassador to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, Omar Zniber, has emphasized the need for the World Trade Organization (WTO) to prioritize African development and address the continent's challenges. Speaking at the WTO General Council meeting in Geneva, Zniber urged the organization to pursue efforts to overcome the current impasse in trade negotiations and focus on the priorities of African countries. He stressed that the WTO's reform process must take into account the specific challenges faced by African economies.
Zniber highlighted the importance of integrating African countries into global value chains and promoting their exports. He noted that the WTO's reform process should be guided by the principles of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The ambassador also emphasized the need to reduce the costs of cross-border remittances, which he described as a vital source of income for millions of households in many developing countries. Currently, these costs range between 6 and 8%, which he considered high.
Reducing the costs of remittances would enable a larger share of transferred funds to be injected directly into the real economy, according to Zniber. This, in turn, could support consumption, education, healthcare, investment, and productive activities, as well as the creation and financing of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The Moroccan ambassador also stressed the importance of South-South trade and the need to strengthen the Global System of Trade Preferences (GSTP).
The WTO General Council meeting in Geneva is examining several key issues, including the report of the Chair of the Trade Negotiations Committee and the Director-General of the WTO. The council is also discussing the follow-up to the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) held in Yaoundé in March and the WTO's reform process. Other topics on the agenda include the work program on small economies, questions related to provisional arrangements on the Agreement on Electronic Commerce, and a dialogue on emerging issues related to agricultural trade.
The Moroccan ambassador's intervention was part of a broader effort to promote African interests at the WTO. The African Group and other WTO members are supporting an initiative to examine how the WTO can contribute to reducing the costs of cross-border remittances and increasing their contribution to trade and development. This initiative aims to generate significant financing for development and improve the integration of developing countries into global trade flows.
Zniber emphasized that the WTO's reform process must be balanced and based on a "win-win" approach. He noted that this approach should contribute to the objectives outlined in the Preamble to the Marrakech Agreement, which establishes a link between trade and development. The Moroccan ambassador's statements reflect the concerns and priorities of African countries, which are seeking to increase their participation in global trade and benefit from the WTO's reform process.
The WTO General Council meeting will continue to discuss these issues on October 6. The organization's reform process and the follow-up to the MC14 conference are expected to be key topics of discussion. The meeting will also mark the 20th anniversary of the Aid for Trade initiative and the tenth global review of this initiative. The WTO's efforts to address the challenges faced by African countries and promote their development will be closely watched by trade experts and policymakers.
Key points
- The Moroccan ambassador to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, Omar Zniber, has called on the World Trade Organization (WTO) to prioritize African development and address the continent's challenges in the ongoing reform process.
