Setting time for organizing the 2026 minister’s conference in Cameroon

Thursday, Dec 26, 2024 | 11:28

WTO Member countries have agreed to hold the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) in 4 days, from March 26 to 29, 2026 in Cameroon.

This is the time frame agreed upon at the meeting taking place on December 16, 2024 of the WTO General Council.  Previously, in December 2022, WTO Member countries agreed with the proposal of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Cameroon to host the next Ministerial Conferences.  After that, the UAE held the 13th Ministerial Conference from February 26 to March 1, 2024 in Abu Dhabi.
The 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14) will be held in Cameroon (Source: WTO)

Attended by trade ministers and other senior officials from 166 WTO Member countries, the Ministerial Conference is the highest decision-making body of the organization. The conference is held every two years and can make decisions on any issue under any multilateral trade agreement. In 2026, MC14 will be the second Ministerial Conference hosted by an African country, after MC10 held in 2015 in Nairobi, Kenya.

President of the General Assembly – Ambassador Petter Ølberg (Norway) said that the final structure and program of MC14 will be released promptly, depending on progress achieved in 2025. Ambassador Salomon Eheth of Cameroon felt thank the Member States for the trust they have given to Cameroon in hosting MC14.  He said his country hopes to not only contribute to the development of the multilateral trading system but also seize the opportunity to show the world Cameroon and Africa’s potential for investment and sustainable development.

Vũ Hoàng Diệu Linh