On the sidelines of the WTO Public Forum, Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, and Roberto Azevedo, the World Trade Organization director general, discussed latest outlook of the future of trade, and further areas of cooperation.
These areas of cooperation include SMEs’ development, emphasizing on ITFC’s major role in the implementation of regional integration programs (AfTIAS) and inter-regional trade development (Arab Africa Trade Bridge Program and Special Program for Central Asia — SPCA), and ITFC trade development programs that contribute to the achievement of the trade related SDGs in IDB member countries.
The potential future cooperation in ITFC/IDBG trade data and contribution in WTO reports and databases, sharing views on SME’s development, and partnering in initiatives for SMEs’ promotion in member countries also figured in the discussion.
“I can confidently say that this has been a very fruitful meeting that resulted in shaping many promising future joint projects between our two entities,” Sonbol said.

Source: Arab News