OPEC Fund to Finance Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline

The OPEC Fund for International Development agreed with Morocco to finance the second phase of feasibility studies of a submarine gas pipeline with Nigeria. (Reuters)
The OPEC Fund for International Development agreed with Morocco to finance the second phase of feasibility studies of a submarine gas pipeline with Nigeria. (Reuters)
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OPEC Fund to Finance Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline

The OPEC Fund for International Development agreed with Morocco to finance the second phase of feasibility studies of a submarine gas pipeline with Nigeria. (Reuters)
The OPEC Fund for International Development agreed with Morocco to finance the second phase of feasibility studies of a submarine gas pipeline with Nigeria. (Reuters)

The OPEC Fund for International Development agreed with Morocco to finance the second phase of feasibility studies of a submarine gas pipeline with Nigeria, said Moroccan authorities.

The legal documentation relating to the $14.3 million financing granted by the OPEC Fund to the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines (ONHYM) was signed Friday by Economy and Finance Minister Nadia Fettah, alongside OPEC Managing Director, Abdulhamid Al khalifa, and ONHYM Managing Director, Amina Benkhadra, the ministry said in a statement.

The study, ahead of the construction of the world’s longest offshore pipeline connecting Nigeria to Morocco, is co-funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

The study covers the documentation for the implementation of the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline (NMGP) project and in finalizing the related technical, financial and legal analyses.

The NMGP Strategic Project was initiated by King Mohammed VI and President Muhammadu Buhari and the related cooperation agreement was signed in May 2017.

The pipeline is part of efforts aimed at integrating and improving the competitiveness and economic and social development of the region.

It also aims to boost the regional economy through the promotion of economic development in North West Africa, the development of job-generating industries, the reduction of gas “flaring” and the use of reliable and sustainable energy.



Saudi Arabia Assumes WTO General Council Presidency for 2025–2026

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Assumes WTO General Council Presidency for 2025–2026

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. In a historic milestone, Al-Moqbel becomes the first Arab and Middle Eastern delegate to assume this position, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The WTO General Council, which convenes throughout the year, oversees the organization’s operations between ministerial conferences, held biennially. As the highest decision-making body at the level of heads of missions, the council plays a crucial role in shaping global trade policies.

During Saudi Arabia's presidency, the General Council is set to address several key issues, including preparations for the 14th Ministerial Conference, scheduled to be held in Cameroon in March 2026.

The agenda will also focus on essential WTO reforms, particularly the dispute settlement mechanism; advancing negotiations on the second phase of the Fisheries Subsidy Agreement; and addressing agriculture, food security, and development concerns.

Other priorities include integrating multilateral agreements, such as the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the E-Commerce Agreement, into the WTO framework.

Commenting on the appointment, Al-Moqbel emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the WTO General Council reflects its growing role in the international economic landscape, leveraging its global economic influence to strengthen multilateral trade cooperation.