The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, expressed the expectation that Macao may contribute to the entry of more Portuguese-speaking countries into the institution.

The Chief Executive of Macao, Sam Hou Fai, recently met in Geneva with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, as part of his official visit to Europe which began in Lisbon. The Nigerian official stated that she is fully aware of the role played by Macao as a platform for co-operation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, expressing the expectation that the territory may help promote the accession of more Portuguese-speaking countries to the WTO, according to a statement released by the Macao SAR Government Information Bureau (GCS).

Among the Portuguese-speaking countries, only Equatorial Guinea and São Tomé and Príncipe are not members of the WTO, both maintaining observer status.

On the occasion, the Chief Executive emphasised that Macao will continue to fully support the WTO in its efforts to maintain and promote the multilateral trading system, as well as deepen the study of how small-sized economies can better integrate into this system.

(Source: Observador, on 24 April)