Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala met with His Highness Sayyid Bilarab Bin Haitam Al-Said of Oman on 21 June at the WTO. Also present at the meeting were HE Qais Mohaammed Moosa Al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and a high-level delegation from the Sultanate of Oman. They discussed the role of trade in addressing global challenges and preparations for the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference, to be held in Abu Dhabi in
His Highness recalled the very successful visit by DG Okonjo-Iweala to Oman last February. He also conveyed the greetings of His Majesty Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik and outlined his vision for Oman’s growth entitled “Vision 2040”. His Highness stressed the importance his country places on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups as drivers of growth, particularly in terms of digital trade and promoting the transition to a green economy.
DG Okonjo-Iweala commended Oman for its contribution to the WTO’s work and noted that Oman and other countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have an opportunity to accelerate their diversification plans in the services and digital sectors. They can rely on an open and predictable multilateral trading system to support this process, she added. The DG also encouraged Oman and other GCC countries which have not yet submitted acceptance of the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement to do so as soon as possible in the run-up to MC13.
Oman joined the joint initiatives on investment facilitation for development and on e-commerce in April 2023.
Oman has been a member of the WTO since 9 November 2000.