Global Review 2026 spotlights partnerships for trade and development
"Developing economies seeking trade success need stronger partnerships with all stakeholders," WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in her opening remarks at the 2026 Global Review on 29 October, marking 20 years of the Aid…
The Global Review looks at how USD 795 billion of investments in Aid for Trade has helped developing economies and LDCs build the infrastructure, skills and institutions they need to benefit more fully from global trade. The Review will also allow participants to exchange views on ways to help developing economies address their growing trade-related needs. The opening session saw the launch of a joint OECD-WTO report on trade and development partnerships, which looks at trends and impact of the Aid for Trade initiative.
Underscoring why this initiative came about, DG Okonjo-Iweala said in her opening remarks: "In launching the Aid for Trade initiative, the international community recognized that trade opportunities matter to the extent that economies have the capacity to seize them." She also noted that despite significant Aid for Trade efforts, African economies and LDCs are yet to see a qualitative expansion of their exports, with their shares in global exports remaining around 3 and 1 per cent, respectively. "We need to ask ourselves how to do better for the poorer countries and what must change to make this initiative more impactful," she said.
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