Financial Afrik took part, on March 16, in a high-level video conference dedicated to the preparation of the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (CM14), scheduled to take place in Yaoundé. This meeting comes at a time marked by rumors circulating about a possible postponement or relocation to Geneva.
The meeting brought together the Director-General of the WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Chair of the General Council, the President of the CM14, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, the Vice-Presidents of the Conference, and the facilitator ministers in charge of negotiations.
Discussions focused on finalizing the format of the conference, organizing the work, and coordinating agendas. At the end of the meeting, participants confirmed that the CM14 will take place in Yaoundé on the scheduled dates, with ministerial participation expected.
Continuing on, a meeting of the National Organizing Committee was held under the chairmanship of the Minister of Commerce. The sub-committees responsible for reception, accommodation, security, health, transportation, and logistics presented the progress of preparations.
A technical delegation from the WTO, led by Danio Campanelli, participated in the work. Assessments indicate a system generally in line with requirements, with ongoing adjustments in certain operational aspects. Cameroonian authorities are maintaining the initial schedule.
The stakes of WTO reform
“The world has changed. The WTO must also evolve. As the #WTOMC14 approaches, Ambassador @PetterOlberg explains why WTO reform is urgent and how members are charting the way forward. To learn more about WTO reform: https://t.co/EzhbXZb7c3 https://t.co/O1ktQ9swA3” / X
