RIYADH: Saudi Arabia and UN officials held discussions in Vienna, Austria, on Dec. 18 and 19, on international trade rules and artificial intelligence.

Participants at the meeting included representatives of the Kingdom’s National Competitiveness Center and the UN Commission on International Trade Law, or UNCITRAL, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The workshop was a part of the NCC’s efforts to contribute to the development of legislative and regulatory frameworks for trade, keeping pace with global digital transformations, and enhancing the competitiveness of the national economy.

The Kingdom’s delegation was led by Commerce Minister Majid Al-Qasabi, who is the chairman of the NCC. Also present were Iman bint Habas Al-Mutairi, CEO of the NCC, 39 government officials, and Anna Jobin-Bret, secretary of UNCITRAL.

In his opening speech, Al-Qasabi spoke about the connection between technology and consumer behavior and its impact on the future of global trade.

The workshop included seven specialized sessions, which addressed AI in international trade, focusing on how it can improve the efficiency of supply chains, logistics operations, and e-commerce.

In a session, “Digital Platforms for Cross-Border Trade,” panelists addressed the legal and regulatory frameworks for using digital platforms.

Other sessions reviewed UNCITRAL’s perspective on the UN@80 initiative. Jobin-Bret spoke about the commission’s efforts and role in the world body’s reform process.

The workshop concluded with a session addressing preparations for joining the new Convention on Commercial Registers, emphasizing the importance of UNCITRAL’s efforts to ensure reliable digital trade.