Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Omar Zniber, has been appointed Chair of the Committee of Participants of the Global System of Trade Preferences among Developing Countries (GSTP) for the 2025-2026 term.
This appointment reflects the recognition of Morocco's credibility on the multilateral stage, its acknowledged regional leadership, and its commitment, under the guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to strengthening South-South cooperation and promoting a more inclusive and equitable international trading system.
Established in 1989, the GSTP brings together 42 member countries, including Morocco, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Thailand. It is the only interregional agreement legally anchored in the World Trade Organization’s Enabling Clause and administered by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Its mission is to enhance South-South trade through tariff concessions, sectoral collaboration, and trade facilitation.
In her letter supporting Morocco’s candidacy, UNCTAD Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan praised the Kingdom’s “steadfast commitment to multilateralism and its leadership in advancing South-South cooperation.” She also recalled Morocco’s previous role as Chair of the GSTP Committee of Participants between 1997 and 2002, as well as its continuing role as depositary of the Agreement.
As Chair, Morocco will oversee the Committee’s meetings, encourage dialogue among members, and work to give new impetus to the mechanism. The Kingdom will preside over the 33rd session of the Committee on September 25, 2025, in Geneva, ahead of a high-level ministerial event scheduled for October 22, 2025, on the sidelines of the 16th UNCTAD Conference.
Through this new responsibility, Morocco reaffirms its determination to contribute actively to global value chains and to advance a fairer, more sustainable international trading system.
