Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva, Matthew Wilson, presented his credentials on Thursday, December 1, to the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
During his discussions with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, Mr. Wilson extended personal regards from the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, and expressed the country’s continued support for the Director-General and the WTO.
In reciprocating regards to Prime Minister Mottley and congratulating Ambassador Wilson on his new appointment, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala expressed pride in the mark Barbados’ was making on the global stage.
Permanent Representative Wilson also highlighted priority areas of interest for Barbados in the WTO, including fisheries subsidies and investment facilitation for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). On the latter issue, he advised the Director-General that Barbados would soon be announcing its intention to join the Informal Working Group on MSMEs.
It was noted that Barbados’ Fourth Trade Policy Review (TPR) had concluded in October and as a follow-up to the Review, Barbados would use the opportunity of the post-review meeting in the first quarter of 2023, to also benefit from a national technical cooperation activity on subsidies, which should include guidance on using green incentives to assist with the transition to low-carbon economies.
Director-General Okonjo-Iweala indicated that she would forward the information to the Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation which coordinates the WTO’s technical assistance and training.
Both Ambassador Wilson and Dr. Okonjo-Iweala expressed a commitment to working together to strengthen the excellent relations that have been established between Barbados and the WTO.