The World Trade Organization (WTO) Chairs Programme has launched new activities at Hamad Bin Khalifa University in Qatar. The university team is led by Dr. Georgios Dimitropoulos, Professor and Associate Dean for Research at the College of Law.
The WTO Chairs Programme, established in 2010, aims to support research, curriculum development, and outreach related to trade within academic institutions in developing and least-developed WTO member countries and observers. The programme’s goal is to help academics, policymakers, and stakeholders better understand issues concerning the multilateral trading system. Funding comes from France, Austria, and the Republic of Korea.
The theme for the Chair in Qatar is "Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital and Industrial Economy." During the launch event, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, Qatar's Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs, welcomed participants.
In his opening remarks, Minister Al-Sayed said that the WTO Chair in Qatar will be “a catalyst for promoting collaborative research between policymakers and academia, and for contributing to transforming the business ecosystem in Qatar.” He added that launching these activities was timely given recent changes in world trade and highlighted the importance of maintaining a multilateral trading system.
WTO Deputy Director-General Xiangchen Zhang congratulated Hamad Bin Khalifa University on joining the network: "Joining the WTO Chairs Programme opens the university to a network of trade experts and fellow academics in developing economies who are active in building and disseminating best practices in research, curriculum development and outreach. Ahead lies a unique opportunity for a strong partnership between the team at Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the Chairs network."
Ambassador Emmanuelle Ivanov-Durand, Permanent Representative of France to the WTO, welcomed the new Chair: "I trust that this Chair will be a centre of scientific excellence in addition to a catalyst for regional ideas and initiatives, so as to serve the cause of an open, fair and sustainable international trading system."
Ambassador Sung-yo Choi from Korea reiterated her country’s backing: "By fostering rigorous research, capacity-building and open dialogue, the Chairs Programme helps to equip countries with the capacity to analyze the complexities of the multilateral trading system and capitalize on emerging opportunities to strengthen it. This is why Korea has been a steadfast supporter of this initiative."
The launch included two panel discussions with representatives from government agencies, universities, and private companies. The first panel focused on international trade law’s relationship with digital economies—particularly examining how middle powers participate—while another addressed industrial policies as well as regulations regarding foreign subsidies under both international and regional economic law frameworks. There was also an informal discussion involving Qatar’s Investment and Trade Court during lunch.
Further details about the WTO Chairs Programme can be found online.