Yaoundé, 26 March 2026 – The official opening ceremony of the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC14) took place in the capital of the Republic of Cameroon. The Conference is being held from 26 to 29 March 2026.

The opening ceremony was chaired by Cameroon’s Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, who serves as Chair of MC14. Opening remarks were also delivered by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Cameroon, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and representatives of the host country.

The event brought together ministers of trade, economy and development, as well as heads of delegations of WTO Members and representatives of international organizations.

Delegations from around 166 countries, including WTO Members and observers, are participating in the Conference.

The delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan is led by Kairat Torebayev, Permanent Representative to the WTO and International Economic Organizations.

During the opening, it was emphasized that the Conference is taking place against the backdrop of significant challenges to global trade, including geopolitical tensions and increasing fragmentation of the global economy. The WTO Director-General called on Members to actively engage in strengthening the multilateral trading system and to work towards practical solutions for its modernization.

Discussions at MC14 focus on key issues of the contemporary global trade agenda, including WTO reform and improving its effectiveness, agriculture and food security, negotiations on fisheries subsidies, e-commerce and related rules, investment facilitation for development, as well as support for developing countries, including least developed countries and landlocked developing countries.

It is expected that the Conference will result in decisions aimed at strengthening an open, inclusive and rules-based multilateral trading system, as well as adapting the WTO to current global economic realities.

The Kazakh delegation is actively participating in the Conference, including plenary sessions, thematic discussions and bilateral meetings.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-wto/press/news/details/1188969?lang=kk