The World Trade Organization (WTO) will host a four-day seminar for about 20 journalists from developing and least-developed countries, including The Gambia, to strengthen their understanding of global trade, multilateralism and trade-related development issues.
The seminar, scheduled for October 27–30, 2026, will take place at the WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, during the 2026 Aid for Trade Global Review Week.
The training is being organised and funded by the WTO Secretariat in collaboration with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). It will bring together selected journalists from Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe.
Participants are expected to attend learning sessions on the functioning of the WTO and key issues being addressed by its members following the organisation’s 14th Ministerial Conference in March 2026.
The programme will also examine the outlook for global trade in 2026 and beyond, development-related challenges and the role of Aid for Trade in supporting developing economies.
Senior WTO officials are expected to participate in the discussions, providing journalists with opportunities to engage with experts and deepen their understanding of the international trading system.
In addition to the training sessions, participants will be invited to attend the opening plenary of the 2026 Aid for Trade Global Review and participate in other sessions during the event.
The review, held under the theme “Partnerships for Trade Development,” will assess two decades of progress in trade-related development and explore how new resources and partnerships can help address emerging challenges in global trade.
Discussions during the review will cover a range of issues, including the diversification of global value chains, trade facilitation, standards, and trade in services, digital trade and the transition to net zero.
Speaking to The Point ahead of the event, Ismaila Dieng, WTO Director of the Information and External Relations Division, said the organisation was looking forward to welcoming approximately 20 journalists from developing and least-developed countries to Geneva.
Dieng, who is also responsible for the WTO’s outreach programme, said the seminar was designed to strengthen journalists’ understanding of global trade issues and the principles underpinning multilateralism.
He explained that, beyond participating in expert briefings, the journalists would have the opportunity to cover the Aid for Trade Global Review, which brings together governments, businesses and development partners to discuss how trade-related funding can be better directed towards economic growth, resilience and development.
“The goal is that the workshop strengthens journalistic capacity, improves understanding of the multilateral trading system and fosters professional networks that support continued dialogue and collaboration on trade and development issues,” he said.
Dieng noted that the seminar forms part of the WTO Secretariat’s broader efforts to improve engagement with journalists and facilitate access to information on international trade.
He said these efforts include media releases, regular press conferences and opportunities for journalists to interact directly with WTO officials.
The seminar is expected to equip participating journalists with greater knowledge of international trade policies, negotiations and development initiatives, enabling them to report more effectively on issues that affect their respective countries and regions.
For The Gambia and other developing economies, improved reporting on global trade can help audiences better understand international trade rules, market access, trade partnerships and the opportunities and challenges these present for national development.