Riyadh, Oct 14 (BNA): Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Zayed bin Rashid Al-Zayani today participated in the Arab trade ministers meeting in Riyadh, in the presence of Arab trade ministers and World Trade Organization (WTO)’s Director-General Roberto Azevedo.

The meeting discussed the Arab countries’ interests, in light of the WTO’s Tenth Ministerial Conference. It also focused on the Arab Group’s stances regarding the Doha Development Agenda Negotiations (DDA) and the work plan after the Bali conference. In addition to supporting the Arab League as an observer at the WTO’s councils, bodies and committees, and to request the inclusion of Arabic as an official language of the WTO and to improve the Arab countries joining procedures.

The final statement stressed the importance of continuing consultations among Arab delegations to reach a common Arab standing before the Ministerial Conference to be held in December 2015 in Nairobi.

MJ

BNA 1701 GMT 2015/10/14