In a move aimed at enhancing economic cooperation and opening new markets, fourteen countries announced the establishment of the “Future Partnership for Investment and Trade,” a multilateral platform designed to address contemporary trade challenges such as supply chains and non-tariff barriers, and to achieve inclusive economic growth.
The announcement was made during a virtual ministerial meeting with the participation of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, who joined via video conferencing.
According to the Emirati news agency, the new partnership includes the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Brunei, Costa Rica, Iceland, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Chile, Rwanda, Singapore, Switzerland, and Uruguay—countries that regard trade as a fundamental pillar of their economies.
The initiative aims to establish a flexible framework that enhances cooperation among member states in vital areas, including strengthening supply chains, removing non-tariff barriers, facilitating foreign investment flows, and integrating emerging technologies into business operations.
The final statement emphasized that the partnership is based on principles aimed at intensifying dialogue between the public and private sectors and enhancing the collective presence of founding nations on the international stage to support a fair and rules-based trading system.
