Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today announced the nomination of the Advisor at Royal Court, Mohammad bin Maziad Al-Tuwaijri, as its candidate for the post of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In its memorandum to the WTO, the Kingdom's Mission to the WTO affirmed the great belief of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the multilateral trading system and the WTO's vital role in this system, stressing the importance of a strong system that enhances openness based on the rules of the multilateral trading system. The mission also confirmed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia realizes the importance of the leading role being played by the WTO in drafting and enforcing international trading rules, in addition to caring and developing the economy and global trade. The nomination of Al-Tuwaijri comes at this stage in which the world is witnessing major changes in the trade system, as the Kingdom holds its responsibilities in light of its current presidency of G20 Summit and reflects its continued support to international efforts to advance the WTO and formulate a strategic vision for the G20 Member States so as to enhance the important role of trade in driving economic growth and achieving sustainable development. The Kingdom's candidate for the post of WTO Director-General, Al-Tuwaijri, has a proven record of experience. He obtained a master's degree with honors in Business Administration from King Saud University in 1998, and held many of the leadership positions that enabled him to stand for the post. Efficiently and competently, most notably his position as a Minister of Economy and Planning, as well as his membership in the Cabinet and the Council of Economic and Development Affairs from 2017 to 2020, his post as a Deputy Minister of Economy and Planning and the Secretary-General of the Finance Committee at Royal Court from 2016 to 2017, in addition to assuming the position as a Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Development Fund and Chairman of the National Transformation Program. He also held the post of Chairman of the General Authority for Statistics and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Privatization Center in addition to his membership in the Board of Directors of Aramco and the Board of Directors of Public Investment Fund. He also assumed the post of Deputy Chairman and CEO of HSBC Bank Middle East and North Africa from 2014 to 2016, Regional Head of banking Services at HSBC Middle East and North Africa from 2010 to 2014 and CEO of J.P. Morgan Saudi Arabia from 2007 to 2010.
