SOUTH AFRICA MARKS 30 YEARS OF THE WTO

Pretoria, South Africa — As the World Trade Organisation (WTO) celebrates its 30th anniversary, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered a powerful message reaffirming the country’s commitment to a fair and inclusive global trading system. His remarks come as South Africa prepares to lead the G20 Presidency, placing development-centric trade at the heart of its global agenda.

“The World Trade Organisation is integral to the multilateral system and to advancing economic progress,” President Ramaphosa stated. He acknowledged the role of the WTO in promoting a rules-based system where over 80% of global trade is governed, yet emphasized that developing countries are still “locked into the lower end of global value chains.”

Calling for urgent reform, the President highlighted the need to recalibrate trade rules to give developing nations the policy space necessary for industrialisation and economic transformation. “We must redouble our efforts to ensure that trade supports development,” he stressed.

In response to the President’s address, Ms. Makgotso Lebajoa, Chairperson of the Imperial Key Africa Foundation, echoed these sentiments and underscored the importance of coupling trade with technology as a powerful lever for inclusive growth.

“Trade alone is not enough. To confront the triple challenges of poverty, unemployment, and inequality, especially on the African continent, we need to integrate technology as both an enabler and equaliser,” said Lebajoa. “The WTO, in this next chapter, must serve as the bridge between aspiration and achievement for developing countries. It must not only ensure fair trade rules but also support access to digital infrastructure, skills transfer, and innovation ecosystems.”

Ms. Lebajoa emphasized the critical juncture at which the global economy stands, noting that without urgent and inclusive reforms, protectionist and unilateral measures by advanced economies could unravel decades of progress.

“As South Africa leads the G20, we have a unique opportunity to reposition the global trade agenda — one that is inclusive, digital, and anchored in justice,” she added. “This is our moment to redefine prosperity in a way that uplifts the most marginalised and unlocks Africa’s full potential.”

Looking ahead to the 14th Ministerial Conference of the WTO in Cameroon in 2026, both President Ramaphosa and Ms. Lebajoa expressed optimism that the global community could rally around a shared vision for an equitable trade architecture.

In closing, Ms. Lebajoa stated, “Trade and tech are not just tools; they are the new liberation. And South Africa, as G20 Chair, must lead with courage, clarity, and commitment.”

As the world reflects on 30 years of the WTO, the call from South Africa is clear: the next decade must belong to the developing world — digitally connected, economically empowered, and justly represented.