The new Minister of the Economy, Amine Salam, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Sept. 13, 2021. (Credit: Anwar Amro/ AFP)
BEIRUT — Economy Minister Amin Salam met with senior officials of international organizations in Geneva to discuss ways to reactivate Lebanon's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the NNA reports.
Here's what we know:
• Salam met with World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iwela at the headquarters of the World Trade Organization, along with the organization’s deputy director-general, Chinese Ambassador to WTO Zhang Xiang Chen, and the director of the accessions department, Maika Oshikawa.
• The group discussed "the necessary reforms, which are required to advance Lebanon's negotiations with the World Trade Organization and obtain international support and loans from the International Monetary Fund, would serve Lebanon's interest and help it get out of its current ordeal."
• Iweala welcomed Minister Salam's visit to the organization's headquarters and promised to "provide specific programs for Lebanon prepared by the organization for technical assistance to hone the skills of the Lebanese negotiating team."
• The purpose of Salam’s visit to Geneva was to participate in the 12th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, but the organizers decided to cancel the conference due to COVID-19 and the new travel restrictions.