Our SMEs Committee Chair Emphasises Need for WTO Reform for a More Inclusive and Resilient Trading System at WTO Public Forum

Our SMEs and Entrepreneurship Committee Chair and Co-Chair of the B20 Trade and Investment Task Force, Patrik Kovacs, joined the WTO’s Public Forum for two events organised by B20 South Africa on Advancing Inclusive Trade and Investment: A B20-WTO Dialogue and Making the WTO Work for Business and Consumers: A South-South Dialogue on WTO Reform. He underlined the importance of pursuing a comprehensive reform agenda to ensure the WTO remains fit for purpose in today’s evolving global landscape.

Such an agenda could include strengthening the WTO Secretariat’s capacity for initiative, advancing more efficient rule-making, enhancing monitoring and notification processes, and restoring a trusted dispute settlement system. At the same time, he stressed the value of giving businesses and stakeholders a more structured role in WTO deliberations, as they are directly impacted by trade policies and practices.

He also emphasised the opportunity for reform through South Africa’s G20 Presidency can deliver a breakthrough impact in trade, investment, and infrastructure — helping secure a resilient, inclusive future. He noted that this is an opportunity to redefine the purpose of trade, to promote shared prosperity and inclusive growth with the Global South.

Our SMEs Chair Patrik Kovacs intervening at the B20 Roundtable at the WTO Public Forum.

From left to right: BCG's Trudi Makaya, our SMEs Chair Patrik Kovacs, South Africa's Ambassador to the WTO Mzukisi Qobo, Chair of the B20 Trade and Investment Task Force Busi Mabusa, Embraer's João Pedro Taborda, and BCG's Michael McAdoo.

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