WTO claims to have helped over 1.5bn people overcome poverty
The activities of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have enabled more than 1.5 billion people to get out of poverty, TASS reports
According to the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo, during a conversation with foreign journalists, WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala noted that the international trade system has brought prosperity. “Since the establishment of the WTO, more than 1.5 billion people have been lifted out of poverty. And it’s not just in China. If you remove China [from this list], you will still see that the rest of the developed world has benefited from trade,” the WTO Chief said.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala also highlighted the positive role of international trade in reducing conflicts in the world. “People seem to forget why the multilateral trading system was created 80 years ago. This was because trade was seen as an integral part of peace-building. When countries depend on each other and negotiate with others, they are less likely to enter into conflict,” she explained.
The WTO Director General added that at present the organisation again needs the support of all participants in the international community to continue its work.
