GENEVA: The Sultanate of Oman took part in the 16th Ministerial Conference of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva, held under the theme “Shaping the Future: Driving Economic Transformation for Equitable, Inclusive and Sustainable Development”.
Oman’s delegation was led by Qais bin Mohammed al Yousef, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, accompanied by Ambassador Idris bin Abdulrahman al Khanjari, Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations, other international organisations in Geneva and senior officials from the ministries of Commerce and Foreign Affairs.
UNCTAD’s Ministerial Conference, convened every four years, serves as the organisation’s top decision-making body, drawing participation from heads of state, ministers, international organisations and private sector representatives. The discussions focus on global economic challenges faced by developing and least-developed countries, shaping UNCTAD’s strategic road map for the next four years.
Al Yousef stressed the importance of international cooperation in an era of economic transformation, highlighting the role of trade, investment and technology as drivers of inclusive and sustainable growth. He noted that Oman Vision 2040 provides a clear framework for national economic diversification, focusing on sectors such as industry, logistics, renewable energy and the digital economy.
The minister emphasised that the conference outcomes should strengthen developing economies through equitable financing and technical assistance, enabling them to achieve their sustainable development goals. He also reaffirmed Oman’s commitment to deepening cooperation with UNCTAD in areas of capacity-building, innovation, and policy development.
Ambassador Al Khanjari underlined that the conference offers a vital platform for reinforcing multilateral collaboration to address global challenges in a spirit of solidarity and shared responsibility.
On the sidelines, Al Yousef held bilateral meetings with the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, the Directors-General of the WTO and WIPO; and the President of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), exploring avenues for enhanced technical cooperation. He also met with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Türkiye, Vietnam and Bhutan, discussing ways to strengthen economic ties and partnerships. — ONA
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
