YAOUNDÉ: The Sultanate of Oman is participating in the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO), hosted in Yaoundé, Republic of Cameroon, with wide participation from trade ministers of member states.
The Omani delegation is headed by Pankaj Khimji, Advisor for Foreign Trade and International Cooperation at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, and includes Ambassador Idris bin Abdulrahman al Khanjari, Permanent Representative of Oman to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, as well as Faisal bin Ali al Hinai, Deputy Head of Mission to the WTO.
Discussions at the conference covered key issues such as WTO reform, agriculture, fisheries subsidies, e-commerce, development, and investment facilitation. Khimji affirmed that Oman’s participation reflects its commitment to strengthening multilateral trade cooperation and supporting a balanced global trading system, particularly in light of geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty and their impact on trade and investment flows.
He highlighted the WTO’s role in promoting inclusive trade and reiterated Oman’s support for a rules-based system grounded in transparency, fairness and openness. Ambassador al Khanjari noted that Oman’s accession to the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement marks a significant step in supporting global efforts to curb harmful subsidies and protect marine ecosystems. He stressed the importance of advancing negotiations and ensuring continued technical support for developing countries.
Faisal al Hinai underscored Oman’s backing for comprehensive WTO reform, including restoring an effective dispute settlement mechanism and ensuring inclusive participation. He also emphasised support for integrating the Investment Facilitation for Development initiative into the WTO framework. On the sidelines, the delegation held bilateral meetings to expand trade and investment ties. — ONA
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