Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN Office and other International Organisations in Geneva, Ram Prasad Subedi, has been elected unanimously as the Chairperson of the Committee on Trade and Development (CTD) under the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a one-year term.

In General Council meeting, the Chairperson Athaliah Lesiba Molokomme proposed his name to elect to the post of Chairperson of the CTD together with the names of the candidates for the other WTO bodies where WTO Members unanimously supported her proposal Friday morning, according to a press release issued by Nepal’s Permanent Mission to UN, Geneva.

Since the accession of Nepal to the WTO in 2004, Ambassador Subedi’s election is the first occasion that Nepal has been elected to the Chairperson of any Tier-one level body in the WTO.

The press release further stated his appointment to the Chairperson of the Committee is a matter of pride for Nepal as it happens to be the 20th anniversary of its accession to the WTO.

Ambassador Subedi is taking up his new role as the Chairperson of the Committee from the regular second meeting of the year 2024 to the regular first meeting of the year 2025.

Primarily a rule making organization, the WTO deliberations are more focused on the trade and development matters in recent years. Ambassador Subedi will have the opportunity to coordinate WTO Members and bring them together to harness the trade and development opportunities within the framework of the Marrakesh Agreement.

Moreover, the appointment of Ambassador Subedi as the Chairperson of the Committee offers an opportunity for Nepal not only to facilitate deliberation on trade and development among the WTO Members but also to engage in dialogue with other larger stakeholders of trade and investment field including development partners.

In addition, this role becomes instrumental to coordinate all stakeholders in line with Doha Action Plan, in mobilizing and mainstreaming the aid for trade for the benefit of LDCs, facilitate discussions on the LDCs’ matters in other WTO bodies, create a conducive environment for those LDCs on the path to graduate.

This role is timely and befitting as Nepal prepares to graduate from LDC category in the year 2026, press release added.