WTO Director-General Meets 2026 Young Trade Leaders
to Discuss AI, Sustainability, and Developing Economies
Artificial intelligence (AI), the environment, and issues facing
developing economies were among the topics discussed by Director-General Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala and the latest cohort of WTO Young Trade Leaders at a meeting on
17 September. The Director-General underlined that harnessing the energy and
ideas of young people is essential for addressing current and future trade
challenges.
·
High-Level Meeting: WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala met with the 2026
cohort of WTO Young Trade Leaders on 17 September 2026 to discuss
artificial intelligence (AI), environmental challenges, and the specific needs
of developing economies.
·
Public Forum Participation
(15–17 September):
o The meeting formed a core part of their year-long programme,
which includes mentorship, practical training, and local community outreach.
o The young leaders hosted a Public Forum session titled "It's
giving services: youth for accelerating growth", moderated by WTO
Young Professional Zineb El-Hanaoui.
o The session highlighted youth contributions to services trade
(technology, education, public health) and emphasized the need for meaningful
youth input in shaping trade policy.
·
Technology & AI Focus: Discussions explored AI’s transformative potential on global
trade systems, while stressing the importance of safeguarding the environment
and protecting developing nations from adverse impacts.
·
2026 Cohort Background: Selected from over 1,300 applicants, the seven members of the
current Young Trade Leaders programme are:
o Piyush Acharya (United States)
o Karen Bailón (Ecuador)
o Noppon Chhim (Cambodia)
o Nor Fekri (Morocco)
o Eve Ang Yee Leng (Singapore)
o Samuel Petrás (Slovak Republic)
o Akshat Sharma (India)
[ABS News Service/19.09.2026]
Stressing their appreciation
for being selected for the 2026 programme, the Young Trade Leaders outlined
their concerns on various trade issues and underscored the importance of
working collaboratively to address the needs of current and future generations.
The young leaders discussed with the DG their experience of some of the latest
technologies, highlighting in particular AI's potential to reshape trade
systems and stressing the need to take into account the impact on developing
economies and the environment.
The Young Trade Leaders'
participation in the Public Forum from 15 to 17 September is a key component of
their year-long programme, which combines mentorship by WTO experts, practical
training and support for activities organized by the group in their local
communities. The young leaders benefited from a full-day workshop with WTO
experts, organized a session at the Public Forum entitled, "It's giving
services: youth for accelerating growth," and met with their national
delegations.
At a session moderated by
Zineb El-Hanaoui, a WTO Young Professional, on 17 September, the Young Trade
Leaders drew attention to how young people can make a major contribution to
services trade in areas including technology, education and public health. They
also stressed that young people are eager to provide meaningful input to the
development of trade policy that can harness their talent and address their
needs.
Throughout the coming year,
the group will build on their experiences in Geneva, honing their trade
expertise through bespoke training programmes and organizing trade discussions
with their local and regional communities.
The seven Young Trade
Leaders were selected from more than 1,300 applications. The current young
leaders are Piyush Acharya (United States), Karen Bailón
(Ecuador), Noppon Chhim (Cambodia), Nor Fekri (Morocco), Eve Ang Yee Leng (Singapore), Samuel
Petrás (Slovak Republic), and Akshat Sharma (India).