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Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Omar Zniber, has been appointed Chair of the Committee of Participants of the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP) for the 2025-2026 term.
The appointment shows Morocco’s active role in multilateral forums, its regional leadership, and its long-standing commitment to advancing South-South cooperation and advocating for a fairer, more inclusive international trading system.
Established on April 19, 1989, the GSTP currently has 42 members, including Morocco, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Thailand.
It remains the only interregional agreement legally anchored in the WTO’s Enabling Clause and administered by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
The mechanism seeks to promote South-South trade through tariff concessions, sectoral cooperation, and trade facilitation.
In her invitation letter to Morocco, UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan commended the country’s “steadfast commitment to multilateralism and leadership in promoting South-South cooperation.”
She also stressed Morocco’s consistent engagement with the GSTP, recalling its previous chairmanship of the Committee from 1997 to 2002 and its continued role as depository of the agreement.
As chair, Morocco will convene and lead Committee meetings, facilitate dialogue among members, and work to inject fresh momentum into the mechanism.
The mandate comes at a time of mounting global trade tensions and major economic challenges for developing countries. Under Morocco’s presidency, the GSTP aims to strengthen collective resilience among its members and unlock the potential of intra-South trade.
The country is set to chair the 33rd session of the GSTP Committee of Participants on September 25 in Geneva. It will also host a high-level ministerial meeting on October 22 on the sidelines of UNCTAD’s 16th Conference (October 20-23).
With this appointment, Morocco reinforces its position as an active participant in global value chains. The position signals Morocco’s determination to contribute to shaping a more equitable and sustainable international trading system.
MWN with MAP
