GENEVA (CHATNEWSTV) — World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed Dominican Republic President Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona to WTO headquarters on Tuesday, praising the country’s economic progress and encouraging swift ratification of the organization’s landmark fisheries subsidies agreement.
The two leaders discussed the Dominican Republic’s macroeconomic growth, which Okonjo-Iweala described as “the fastest in Latin America.”
“Your country is setting a regional example through its successful economic diversification and digital transformation,” Okonjo-Iweala said during the meeting at WTO headquarters in Geneva.
Both sides highlighted the growing role of services and digital trade in fueling the Dominican Republic’s development. President Abinader, who was visiting the WTO for the first time, affirmed his government’s commitment to engaging actively in multilateral trade.
“We are proud of our contribution to the WTO and the value of fair, rules-based trade for our development,” Abinader said.
Okonjo-Iweala also urged the Dominican Republic to ratify the WTO’s Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, a key global deal aimed at curbing harmful subsidies that contribute to overfishing and marine depletion.
“It is important that the Dominican Republic joins others in ratifying the agreement so it can enter into force as soon as possible,” she said.
The fisheries accord, adopted in June 2022, requires two-thirds of WTO members to ratify the deal before it can take effect. As of early June, more than 70 of the necessary 110 ratifications had been received.
The Dominican Republic has played an active role in WTO deliberations, particularly in support of developing economies. Okonjo-Iweala noted the country’s contributions to inclusive trade reform and multilateral cooperation.
President Abinader’s visit underscores the country’s strategic interest in aligning with global trade norms while promoting domestic modernization. The Dominican economy has expanded at an average of more than 5 percent annually over the past decade, driven by investment in tourism, services, and technology.
