The World Trade Organization (WTO) has welcomed the 2025 cohort of its Young Professionals Programme (YPP), an initiative aimed at enhancing diversity and strengthening membership representation within the Secretariat. Since its inception in 2017, the YPP has been instrumental in developing trade expertise among young professionals from developing economies and least developed countries. This year's participants were chosen from a competitive pool of approximately 5,500 applicants.
In her welcoming remarks, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala praised the Young Professionals for their entry into this selective programme. She highlighted that 2025 is expected to be a significant year for the WTO, with geopolitical tensions potentially affecting negotiations on critical issues such as fisheries subsidies, dispute settlement reform, development, and agriculture.
Despite these challenges, Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the importance of achieving results wherever possible and "to lay a strong foundation for a successful Fourteenth WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) in Cameroon in March 2026." She also stressed that the WTO's role is "to deliver results that are good for people and the planet," showing how trade cooperation can enhance certainty and foster growth for all members.
Okonjo-Iweala expressed gratitude to those who have contributed to the WTO Global Trust Fund, which supports programmes like the YPP. The new cohort underwent an intensive induction programme involving over 60 Secretariat staff members to provide them with a comprehensive understanding of the WTO's work.
Representing the 2025 cohort, Nada Alsalmi from Saudi Arabia spoke about the programme's significance in equipping young professionals with essential tools for contributing to global trade. "Our presence at the WTO is not just a privilege but also a responsibility," she said. Alsalmi thanked both the WTO and Okonjo-Iweala for supporting this initiative.
Ambassadors from member countries represented in this year's YPP praised its role in nurturing trade talent and reinforcing the multilateral trading system. The current group of Young Professionals includes individuals from Angola, Armenia, Burkina Faso, Botswana, Cambodia, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, The Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Moldova, Nigeria, Singapore, Saudi Arabia,Togo,and Viet Nam.