14th Ministerial Conference of the WTO |08 April 2026

PS Edmond (right) and principal trade officer of the trade division, Aissata Dia (Photo: Contributed)

Seychelles calls for inclusive, development-focused reform

 Seychelles took part in the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organisation held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from March 26 -29, 2026, bringing together ministers and senior officials responsible for trade to deliberate on the future of the multilateral trading system.

A member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) since April 2015, Seychelles, was represented by principal secretary for Trade and Investment, Natalie Edmond; and principal trade officer of the trade division, Aissata Dia.

WTO reform, the central theme of the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), featured prominently in discussions aimed at ensuring the organisation remains fit-for-purpose in a rapidly evolving global landscape.

Speaking on behalf of Seychelles, PS Edmond underscored the importance of preserving consensus-based decision-making, enshrined in the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the WTO, and called for greater trust, transparency, and inclusivity within the organisation to allow for the effective involvement of all members in the multilateral trading system.

Seychelles also highlighted the challenges it faces as a small island developing state, including limited involvement in global value chains and vulnerability to external shocks, and called for WTO reforms that would support economic diversification, resilience, and improve access to technology.

The delegation further emphasised the importance of special and differential treatment, which affords developing countries certain flexibilities under WTO rules, and called for increased technical help and capacity building to help small delegations engage effectively in trade negotiations. PS Edmond also urged WTO members to work towards a fairer, more inclusive, transparent, and development-oriented trading system.

Other key trade issues considered at the conference include fisheries subsidies, investment facilitation for development, e-commerce, agriculture, and broader development issues, particularly those affecting least developed countries. One major milestone noted was the recognition of the entry into force of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies in September 2025, following over two decades of negotiations, and the deposit of additional instruments of acceptance to the Agreement from Samoa, Paraguay, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, bringing the total number of acceptances to 119. Seychelles was among the early adopters, having ratified the agreement in March 2023 as the third member state to do so.

Press release from the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning, Trade and Investment