WTO thanks 2020 Young Professionals for work amid difficult year

On behalf of the entire World Trade Organization (WTO), Deputy Director-General Yonov Frederick Agah on December 4 thanked the 2020 WTO Young Professionals for their good work and contributions as they reach the end of their year at the organisation.

The past year was unprecedented due to Covid-19, DDG Agah noted, with the pandemic forcing both WTO members and Secretariat staff to adapt to the current reality.

“We all had to learn to work remotely and continue to serve our members,” he noted.

Despite this, the 2020 Young Professionals were still able to secure first-hand access to the activities taking place in the Secretariat, reads a WTO news release.

They were also able to witness key 2020 events such as the commemorations marking the 25th anniversary of the WTO and World Cotton Day, DDG Agah noted.

“The knowledge you have developed — as well as the contacts you make — can help you seize new professional opportunities,” he declared. “No matter where you are, I hope you will share this knowledge, put it to good use, and help your governments engage in the WTO.”

The 2020 group included professionals from Albania, Bahrain, Cuba, Dominica, Fiji, Guyana, Israel, Lesotho, Mali, Mozambique, North Macedonia and Singapore.

Speaking on behalf of the2020 WTO Young Professionals group, Maryam Aldoseri from Bahrain, noted that this year's Young Professionals faced unique challenges and circumstances due to Covid-19 and admitted that the “ride was bumpy at times”. Nevertheless, the 2020 experience “has been an extremely transformative year” for all participants.

“Not only have we developed skills and expertise in the field of international trade policy, but we have also learned how integral trade is to global economic growth and progress — especially in light of the global pandemic and the path towards a stable global economic recovery,” she said.

virtual event was attended by ambassadors and representatives of permanent missions from the Young Professionals' home countries as well as the directors and supervisors in the WTO divisions where they worked.

Launched in 2016, the WTO Young Professionals Programme is part of the WTO Secretariat's efforts to increase diversity and broaden the representation of the membership. The programme puts a special focus on WTO members that are not currently represented at the professional level in the WTO Secretariat.