SA to attend the 2024 WTO Public Forum in Switzerland

Trade, Industry and Competition Deputy Minister Zuko Godlimpi will attend the 2024 World Trade Organisation (WTO) Public Forum taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 10 to 13 September 2024. The theme of this year's forum, which coincides with the WTO's 30th anniversary, will be 'Re-globalisation: Better Trade for a Better World'. In line with the theme, this year's forum will explore how re-globalisation can help make trade more inclusive and ensure that its benefits reach more people. The WTO Public Forum is the WTO's largest outreach event which provides a unique platform to interact with stakeholders from around the world, engage with the latest developments in global trade and propose ways of enhancing the multilateral trading system. The annual events attract diverse stakeholders, including government policy makers, international organisations, business community, academia, parliamentary representatives, and civil society. There will be almost 140 interactive sessions organised by various stake holders and the WTO Secretariat covering various topics under the following sub-themes: Green policies to maximise the benefits of trade Services trade to build progress and enhance welfare Digitalisation as a catalyst for inclusive trade The themes and sub-themes are in sync with the priorities that the department has embraced in pursuit of industrialisation, reindustrialisation and economic transformation. They are also relevant to the priorities of the African continent as defined by Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Godlimpi's programme will include engagements with key WTO members and courtesy calls to the heads of the WTO, the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the International Trade Centre (ITC), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) and The South Centre, among others. Godlimpi's participation in the forum comes as South Africa gears towards assuming the Presidency of the G20 in December this year. The dtic will be leading the G20 Trade and Industry Working Group. Source: South African Government News Agency