WTO Candidates Emphasize Experience, Confidence on 2nd Day of Presentations

The headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are pictured in Geneva, Switzerland, April 12, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
The headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are pictured in Geneva, Switzerland, April 12, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
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WTO Candidates Emphasize Experience, Confidence on 2nd Day of Presentations

The headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are pictured in Geneva, Switzerland, April 12, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo
The headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are pictured in Geneva, Switzerland, April 12, 2017. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

As Saudi Arabia’s candidate for the presidency of the largest international trade organization - is expected to unveil his program, the Moldovan and South Korean candidates agreed that the World Trade Organization (WTO) needed to regain the members’ confidence and to launch a series of reforms.

WTO candidates will be presenting themselves until next Friday. They will have a few weeks until September 7 to persuade the capitals, which will choose the next president during a special meeting in Geneva.

This comes after Brazilian Roberto Azevedo suddenly announced leaving his post in mid-May, and officially giving up his duties at the end of August, a year before the end of his term.

On Thursday, candidates Tudor Ulianovschi of Moldova and Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea, underlined in their speeches the need to reform the WTO work mechanism and to restore confidence by enabling it to keep pace with the 21st century’s world trade.

In his address to the WTO members, Ulianovschi said the organization was not related to the global community today and must demonstrate its importance and do more. He noted that he presented his personal vision for the reform to the organization’s advisory council.

The Moldovan candidate said the top priority for the Director-General next year was to revitalize the organization’s functions, including its negotiating ability and the involvement of all members in the global discussions.

He added that the second priority was to revive the WTO’s judicial function. As for the third priority, he emphasized the need to enhance the principles of transparency and strengthen the supervision within the international organization.

Ulianovschi has assumed the post of Foreign Minister of Moldova from January 2018 to June 2019. He held other diplomatic positions, including his country’s ambassador to Switzerland, and has diplomatic experience of about 15 years.

For her part, Yoo Myung-hee, South Korea’s Minister of Trade, presented her vision for the WTO, stressing that the organization should become “a supreme court” in international trade matters.

She also said that the WTO was at a crossroads, and therefore needed a more confident reform process and integration into the global trading system.

“The world has changed and countries have changed, so there is a need to reorganize global trade,” she stated.

On Thursday, candidates Jesus Seade Kuri from Mexico, Abdel-Hamid Mahmoud of Egypt and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria revealed their programs in front of 164 members of the council.

Other candidates include former British Minister of International Trade Liam Fox and former Saudi Minister of Economy and Planning Muhammad Al-Tuwaijri.

Saudi Arabia attaches great hopes to its candidate’s victory, especially after the strong confidence expressed by the international community in the Kingdom’s role in the global economic scene.

Al-Tuwaijri held a number of meetings with WTO officials, member-states and regional groups, on the sidelines of his visit to Geneva to present his candidacy speech to the Organization’s General Council.

He met with Roberto Azevedo, the current WTO director-general, the ambassadors of Arab countries and the group of Article XII which consists of 38 members, in addition to the Latin American and Caribbean group of 33 members, in the presence of the permanent representative of Saudi Arabia to the organization.

Al-Tuwaijri is expected to present his candidacy statement to the organization’s general council this Friday, following which he will hold a press conference with media representatives.

The Saudi minister’s nomination comes amid major global challenges in the trade system and reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to driving economic growth and achieving sustainable development.



Saudi Market Rises as Investors Absorb Tariff Shock

Entrance to the Tadawul Tower in Riyadh’s financial district (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Entrance to the Tadawul Tower in Riyadh’s financial district (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Market Rises as Investors Absorb Tariff Shock

Entrance to the Tadawul Tower in Riyadh’s financial district (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Entrance to the Tadawul Tower in Riyadh’s financial district (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Gulf markets trimmed their losses on Monday, with the Saudi stock index erasing earlier declines and turning positive, driven by gains in major stocks such as ACWA Power and Aramco.

Despite a sluggish start, influenced by tariff concerns, the Tadawul index managed to overcome these challenges, closing 1.1% higher.

In contrast, other Gulf bourses saw limited declines, with Qatar and Kuwait exchanges registering drops, while the Muscat bourse also experienced a slight dip.

These movements come amid a broader retreat in global stock markets, still reacting to US President Donald Trump’s recent decision to impose tariff hikes.

The Saudi stock market rose 1.1%, closing at 11,194 points, up 117 points. The market recorded active trading, with total turnover reaching approximately 10.6 billion riyals ($2.8 billion), the highest since December 2024.

Despite a sharp decline of over 400 points earlier in the session, which brought the market to a low of 10,657 points, it successfully recovered to end the day higher. On Sunday, the market had dropped by more than 800 points.

ACWA Power led the gainers, jumping 6.8% to close at 331 riyals. Aramco shares also rose 1%, reaching 25.25 riyals.

Meanwhile, Al Takaful Cooperative saw a 5% increase, closing at 131 riyals, following the company’s announcement of cash dividends for shareholders.

These movements come as markets absorb the shock of the tariff hike, with Gulf financial markets showing mixed performance following sharp declines in reaction to Trump’s decision to raise tariffs.