The Shura Council took part in the opening proceedings of the WTO Public Forum 2026, held at the headquarters of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, under the theme "Powering the Future," with broad participation from decision-makers, parliamentarians, and leaders in business and international trade.
The Forum's discussions focused on a range of issues related to trade in services and the future of global trade, against the backdrop of rapid technological transformation and the growing importance of digital services, alongside examining the role of services trade in economic growth and job creation.
Sessions held during the Forum covered several key themes, most notably strengthening international cooperation and the resilience of the multilateral trading system amid geopolitical shifts, the launch of the World Trade Report 2026, and a review of the latest indicators and trends in global trade growth and movement.
His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al Hashmi, Member of the Shura Council, and his representative took part in the Forum's discussions, which included: the future of services trade through a dialogue between private-sector and business leaders on supporting innovation and digital services; the new competitive edge in the global economy, exploring the opportunities artificial intelligence and modern technology offer in reshaping trade competitiveness; and the balance of international trade, examining structural shifts and supply chains in the pursuit of renewed economic stability and balance.
The Forum's sessions also addressed food security and supply chains, exploring mechanisms to ensure global food security and protect importing countries amid supply-chain disruptions and geopolitical impacts, in addition to regional crises and their economic impact, discussing the repercussions of maritime and regional crises and ways to protect the economies most vulnerable to such disruptions.
The WTO Public Forum 2026 in Geneva also discussed reducing trade costs and enhancing economic inclusion through investment in the services sector, as well as artificial intelligence and the services economy, examining the future of services trade in the age of AI and adapting the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) to keep pace with the modern digital economy.
The Forum further discussed domestic regulation and market-access facilitation, through drafting next-generation rules and disciplines for services trade and streamlining domestic regulations to make market access a tangible reality.