WTO needs reform, Saudi candidate for director general post tells Pakistani media

Naimat Khan
Former Saudi economy minister and Saudi Arabia's candidate for General Director of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Mohammed al-Tuwaijri attends a press conference on July 17, 2020 in Geneva, following his hearing before 164 member states' representatives, as part of the application process to head the World Trade Organization (WTO) as Director General. (AFP Photo)
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  • Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri is among eight contenders for post of director general of World Trade Organization 
  • He is currently a minister advising the royal court on international and local economic strategic matters

KARACHI: Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri, Saudi Arabia’s nominee for the post of director general of the World Trade Organization, said on Wednesday the WTO needed to be brought “back on track” to enhance the capabilities of developing countries and promote global trade.




Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, the Saudi Arabia’s nominee for Director General of World Trade Organisation, speaks to Pakistani journalists via video link on Wednesday, July 22, 2020 (Screen grab) 

Al-Tuwaijri is one among eight candidates nominated for the post of WTO Director-General. He has a long career in banking and is currently a minister advising the royal court of Saudi Arabia on international and local economic strategic matters. He is also a former Minister of Economy and Planning of Saudi Arabia.




A photo taken on May 28, 2020 in Geneva shows the World Trade Organization (WTO) headquarters at sunrise. (AFP Photo)

“The WTO has been practically dysfunctional and the members are settling their disputes outside it,” Al-Tuwaijri told a group of Pakistani journalists via video link. “We want to bring it back on track so that it may enhance the capabilities of developing countries and promote global trade.”
He added that the WTO needed to consider how to best navigate global trade and development in the text of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“Every country will have its own requirements in rehabilitation post COVID-19 and in such conditions the role of WTO becomes of paramount importance. We will devise a line of action which may benefit all member states,” Al-Tuwaijri said.
“We want to do justice with all members, do justice with the organization and do justice with international trade,” he added.