KUALA LUMPUR: The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is in a state of stagnation and that a reform is necessary, said Saudi Arabia’s candidate to head the organisation Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri.
He said what is needed today to lead the organisation is management and leadership.
“The WTO director-general should act as a link between member states and help them understand each other,” Al-Tuwaijri said while addressing a virtual press conference from Geneva, according to a Saudi Gazette report.
Al-Tuwaijri further said that the WTO needs a fully dedicated director-general who should bring in very solid necessary reform agenda based on track records of actual delivery of mandates.
“We should focus on successes instead of disagreements,” he said.
Saudi Arabia last week nominated the former economy and planning minister to head the WTO. The incumbent, Roberto Azevedo, is stepping down in August.
“The biggest issue WTO is facing today is around process people go to the design system of the WTO and they basically have no process, so what happens things get delayed,” he said.
Al-Tuwaijri pointed out that with Covid-19 affecting things globally, it will be more uncertain and difficult for trade in the world.
“If we think about now, we have the uncertainty of Covid-19, so why not rethink some of the rules, some of the processes, introduce some new ideas to the members, get this ship moving,” he said.
Al-Tuwaijri explained that his experience in working with Vision 2030, which aims to move Saudi Arabia away from oil dependence and transform the economy, makes him an ideal candidate for the head of the WTO while it is in need of reform.
“I was part of probably part of the biggest reforms that took place in recent history, a major transformation with the essence around economic diversification, job creation, and the private sector, very much the original goals of the WTO,” he said.
Responding to a question from the Saudi Gazette about the future of the WTO, Al-Tuwaijri said that the future of the WTO is the members’ choice.
“I told the members it’s their organisation, their goals, their choice,” he said.
“The director-general should come in as a facilitator, like a compass; if the organisation is drifting away from its true north and I gave a lot of examples, the organisation is drifting, yes, it is, is there a lot of things done recently to get it back on track, maybe not”.
“I want the future director-general to inherit a much better organisation, I want the debate to shift from this political will into how we can go back to our original goals and delivers on them,” Al-Tuwaijri said. – Bernama
