Tunisia seeks fairer trade system, minister says at WTO MC 13 [Upd 1]

Tunisia said it is committed to a fairer trade system which takes into account the specific characteristics of developing countries and the least-developed ones while making sure trade is linked to development and sustainable development. The Tunisian stance was outlined by Minister of Trade and Export Development Kalthoum Ben Rejeb as she attended the 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation (February 26-29) in Abu Dhabi (UAE). Ben Rejeb is leading the Tunisian delegation to works of this biennial conference attended by the trade ministers and delegations of 164 member states. Ben Rjeb attended, on the sidelines of the conference, the opening of the WTO-ITC High- Level Event on Women and Trade. The event, jointly held by the WTO and the International Trade Centre (ITC), is an opportunity to urge the international community to increase women's participation in international trade, reads a ministry press release. Ben Rjeb also participated in the Digital Trade for Africa Joint WTO-World Bank project which involves nine African countries. The project is designed to make of digital trade a catalyst for development in Africa. The minister attended the launch of a $50 million fund to help female entrepeneurs in developing countries export more as part of digital economy. The initiative is spearheaded by the WTO and the ITC. Additionally, Ben Rjeb held a talk with WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Executive Director of the International Trade Centre Pamela Coke-Hamilton. The minister said Tunisia supports a multilateral trade system. The country hopes for a successful delivery of this 13th conference and a host of decisions to achieve development and increase the participation of developing countries in international trade. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse