GENEVA: The World Trade Organization has ground to a halt and needs a pragmatic new director-general to drive through reforms, the Saudi candidate for the job said on Wednesday.
Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, 53, said the WTO, which was founded in 1995, was due a shake-up.
“Twenty-five years; in my mind, every organisation in the world -- regardless of the external environment, which is severe in our case -- must have the fresh restart,” he told the Geneva Press Club.
Al-Tuwaijri is one of eight candidates in the running to replace Roberto Azevedo. The Brazilian career diplomat quit the WTO helm at the end of August, a year before his second term was due to expire.
Three candidates will get the chop on Friday as WTO member states narrow down the field.
A former air force pilot who flew more than 30 Gulf War missions, Al-Tuwaijri was a banker who ran JPMorgan's fledgling Saudi Arabia operations before joining HSBC.
The former Saudi economy minister currently advises the Kingdom's royal court on economic strategy.
The WTO is in paralysis due to the trade war between the United States and China, US President Donald Trump's mistrust of the global trade body and, according to Tuwaijri, a lack of re-evaluation within the organisation itself.
“Hence my approach is around practical leadership,” he said.
“We need to really listen to members, but be very impartial, give ideas... gradual progress: we cannot have a switch on, switch off.”
Saudi Arabia’s WTO candidate wants practical pilot at the controls
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Saudi Arabia’s WTO candidate wants practical pilot at the controls
- Mohammad Al-Tuwaijri, 53, said the WTO, which was founded in 1995, was due a shake-up
- Former Saudi economy minister is one of eight candidates in the running to replace Roberto Azevedo
Historic Jeddah records over 2m visits
- The remarkable turnout highlights the activity within the UNESCO-listed site, also known as Al-Balad, with its alleys and historic squares
JEDDAH: Historic Jeddah continues to flourish as one of Saudi Arabia’s premier cultural and heritage destinations, recording over 2 million visits in the first half of Ramadan.
The surge reflects the district’s vibrant and diverse activities, and the growing appeal of its Ramadan events that blend the authenticity of the place with the spirit of the season, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The remarkable turnout highlights the activity within the UNESCO-listed site, also known as Al-Balad, with its alleys and historic squares.
There has been a continuous flow of visitors exploring longstanding architectural landmarks and traditional marketplaces including Souq Al-Alawi, Bab Makkah Souq, and Al-Balad.
In these areas commerce intertwines with handicraft displays and storytelling, creating a cultural experience that reflects the place’s unique character and rich historical memory.
