The National Competitiveness Center (NCC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) signed an agreement in Geneva today. The agreement allows the NCC to benefit from the international organization’s expertise in trade facilitation, logistics services, e-commerce, and consumer protection.
The Saudi Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation, Dr. Adel Siraj Mirdad, and the kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the UN in Geneva, Ambassador Abdulmohsen Majed bin Khothaila, attended the signing ceremony.
The Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NCC, Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi, said that this agreement is part of the National Competitiveness Center’s efforts to achieve Vision 2030 initiatives. He added that these initiatives aim to promote sustainable economic development and increase the integration of the national economy regionally and globally.
Al-Qasabi highlighted that the agreement aims to improve and develop the competitive environment and strengthen the trading system in the kingdom. This, he said, will be achieved by providing research and studies and technical cooperation in activities related to capacity building in reviewing trade policies and free trade agreements, facilitating trade and logistics services, e-commerce, and consumer protection.
The Vice Minister of Commerce and CEO of the National Competitiveness Center, Dr. Iman bint Habas Al-Mutairi, signed the agreement with the Secretary-General of UNCTAD, Rebeca Grynspan.
She said that this agreement is a part of the Center’s keenness to benefit from various international experiences to implement the best methods and practices that lead to enhancing the kingdom’s competitiveness.
Dr. Al-Mutairi said the agreement includes reviewing the framework of free trade agreements and evaluating them economically, implementing trade facilitation reforms, conducting a comprehensive analysis of policies and legislative and regulatory frameworks for consumer protection in the kingdom, and building capabilities to measure the spread and impact of e-commerce.
All of these measures will contribute to strengthening digital economy policies, said Al-Mutairi.
source: spa.gov.sa