WTO Ministerial Conference: Trade minister dismisses relocation rumours, insists Yaounde set to host confab.

The reassurances were made during two meetings held recently in Yaounde. The meetings were to dispel rumours about a possible relocation of the conference to Geneva, as organisers finalised key arrangements and reaffirmed participation by ministers.

The first meeting was held via videoconference between the Ministry of Trade, senior WTO officials and ministers responsible for steering the conference negotiations.

Among participants were WTO Director General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Chair of the General Council, the President of the conference, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, alongside vice-presidents and ministerial facilitators.

Discussions focused on confirming the format of the conference, aligning schedules and settling outstanding organisational details. 

According to the conference president, agreement was reached on all major aspects, with several delegations indicating plans to arrive early in Yaounde.

“The primary objective of this video conference was to provide a clear response to those who believe the meeting will not take place in Yaounde. It is now clear that Cameroon will host this international event,” Minister Mbarga Atangana told reporters.

He further reported strong enthusiasm from participating countries, with some delegations indicating they would arrive as early as March 21, five days ahead of the opening session.

“We noted the obvious enthusiasm of all countries, who are eager to arrive in Yaounde. The conference will indeed take place in Yaounde on the scheduled dates and will see the active, massive participation of ministers,” he said.

Preparations on track

Following the first meeting, the Minister of Trade chaired a meeting of the National Organising Committee for the conference. 

Representatives from all sub-commissions attended, covering areas such as reception, accommodation, security, health, transport and cultural programming. 

Each unit presented updates on logistical preparations, with organisers reviewing progress across all operational fronts. 

The meeting also included a delegation from the WTO led by Danio Campanelli, coordinator of ministerial conferences, who assessed the readiness of the host country.

During the review, WTO officials acknowledged progress made by Cameroon’s organising teams, noting that some sub-commissions had exceeded initial requirements outlined in their mandates. 

While certain adjustments remain to meet expected international standards, organisers indicated that preparations are advancing according to schedule, with coordination continuing between national authorities and WTO structures.

“Given the time remaining, we must work in a focused and coordinated manner. The real challenge now lies in our ability to rise to the occasion. Yaounde must lay the foundations for a new chapter for the WTO,” the minister said.

According to the government official, ministerial participation at this edition is expected to surpass previous conferences. He described the Yaounde summit as a potential turning point for the organisation.

“Everyone is aware of what is at stake. This is why, compared with previous editions, ministerial participation will be very strong,” he said.

The four-day conference, running from March26 to 29, will bring together trade ministers and delegations from WTO member states to examine challenges and opportunities facing the multilateral trading system. 

Participants will also take decisions on matters arising from multilateral trade agreements. Issues on the agenda include investment facilitation, e-commerce, development and WTO reform.

This article article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3736 of Thursday March 19, 2026