Saudi Arabia proposes hosting WTO meeting in 2028

Thank you to Deepthi Nair for inviting me to comment for The National News on Saudi Arabia proposing to host the 15th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC15) in 2028.

I commented that “Hosting two consecutive WTO ministerial meetings in the Gulf (after MC13 in Abu Dhabi in 2024) signals that the region is no longer just an energy supplier but a rising hub for global trade diplomacy“, while “For Saudi Arabia, it would align with other major hosting duties, such as the 2030 World Expo and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, supporting its goal to position the kingdom as a global gateway“.

I reminded readers that “The timing is deeply symbolic. 2028 falls just two years before the deadline of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 transformative masterplan. Hosting the MC15 serves as a high-stakes progress report to the world, showcasing Riyadh as a modernised, diversified global hub“, while “It also marks the 20th anniversary of Saudi Arabia’s accession to the WTO, effectively coming full circle from a new member to a leading host.“

As KSA’s bid to host MC15 already enjoys a wide support among WTO members, “This suggests that the kingdom is positioning itself as a bridge between developed economies and the Global South. As the WTO faces pressure to reform its dispute settlement mechanisms and address the needs of developing nations, Riyadh offers a neutral, high-capacity venue for these critical negotiations“.

But this bid does not come without risks: “There is a risk in hosting an organisation that some perceive as losing its centrality. If the MC14 in Cameroon (to be held in 2026) fails to produce a genuine reform process, Riyadh could inherit a fractured agenda in 2028. This would risk turning MC15 into a talk shop with no new trade rules“.

Read the full article here.

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