The World Trade Organization (WTO) President Mike Moore met in Geneva this week with Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh International (TAGI).
The meeting addressed capacity-building in Arab countries in light of a new round of negotiations.
Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh disclosed the decision to Mike Moore on the creation of the Abu-Ghazaleh CASIN Center for building multilateral trade capacities. The purpose of this center is to build capabilities to develop knowledge and the awareness of Arab countries on issues relating to the WTO, in addition to raising their negotiating abilities for effective participation in the global commercial system, and assisting them in creating commercial policies.
The meeting also discussed the follow-up activities of the fourth WTO ministerial conference that was convened last November in Doha, Qatar. The creation and financing of the unofficial WTO website in the Arabic language on the internet under the supervision of TAGI, is considered one of the most important accomplishments achieved in collaboration with the Arab world as a result of these follow-up activities.
Abu-Ghazaleh suggested creating an Arab consultative group for the general secretariat of the WTO, in order to study the main topics and problems affecting the Arab world as a result of WTO agreements, such that this group will include representatives from both the public and private sectors.