Saudi Minister of Commerce Concludes Visit to South Korea

Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi concluded his visit to South Korea on Wednesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi concluded his visit to South Korea on Wednesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Minister of Commerce Concludes Visit to South Korea

Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi concluded his visit to South Korea on Wednesday. (SPA)
Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi concluded his visit to South Korea on Wednesday. (SPA)

Saudi Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Competitiveness Center (NCC) Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi met with Korean Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Dr. Sangwoo Park in Seoul on Wednesday at the conclusion of his visit to South Korea.

The meeting, attended by Saudi Ambassador to South Korea Sami bin Mohammed Al-Sadhan, discussed the Kingdom's Vision 2030, economic and development reforms, cooperation and partnership opportunities, and the exchange of expertise, particularly in priority sectors.

During his visit, Dr. Al-Qasabi visited the Samsung Innovation Museum in Suwon and held a meeting with the Global President of Public Affairs, Seung-Hee Park, and senior executives of the company to explore cooperation opportunities and prospects presented by Vision 2030 and its economic and developmental reforms.

The minister met with the CEO of SK Telecom, Ryu Young-sang, to discuss potential cooperation opportunities that the company could offer to the Kingdom's ongoing projects.

The visit included meetings with several Korean officials, including the prime minister, minister of trade, industry, and energy, minister of small and medium enterprises and startups, minister of trade, and head of environmental, social and governance standards at Naver, to boost trade relations and economic partnership.

Al-Qasabi participated in the Saudi-Korean Business Forum organized by the National Competitiveness Center, the Federation of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, and the Korean Chambers of Commerce and Industry. The Saudi delegation at the event included representatives from various government entities and business leaders from major national companies.

The forum sought to strengthen trade relations in various priority economic sectors and discuss challenges faced by the private sector, as well as proposals for bolstering business opportunities.



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.