Prof. Alouis Chilunjika, the Coordinator of the Research pillar at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) and the WTO Chair, attended the 2025 WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) Annual Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, from 2 to 4 July 2025, where he represented the NUL-WTO Chair. Prof. Chilunjika actively participated in several thematic and technical sessions. On Day 1, he served as a discussant in the “Building Capacity for Digital Trade” session, which examined e-commerce, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies influencing global trade. Drawing from Lesotho’s context, he highlighted gaps in digital infrastructure, policy alignment, and skills development. He emphasized the importance of strengthening institutional capacity, investing in digital literacy, and leveraging regional frameworks to help small and landlocked economies like Lesotho integrate into global e-commerce value chains. His remarks underscored the urgency of creating inclusive digital trade policies that benefit both large and small market players.
Later, in the “Technical Assistance Monitoring and Evaluation” session, Prof. Chilunjika reflected on Lesotho’s experiences with WTO technical assistance programs. He noted successes in knowledge transfer and policy influence but also identified challenges such as sustainability, reporting burdens, and limited resource capacity. He proposed adaptive monitoring frameworks that align WTO accountability with national policy realities, ensuring technical assistance leads to measurable, long-term improvements in trade facilitation.
Plenary discussions on Day 2 of the WTO Chairs Programme Annual Conference focused on key trade themes, including fisheries subsidies and marine resource sustainability, strategies to enhance MSMEs’ global trade participation, and addressing trade finance gaps in developing regions. The session on dispute settlement examined WTO reforms and comparative regional mechanisms, while the ePing platform was highlighted for tracking regulatory changes. Curriculum development initiatives, such as Model WTOs and moot courts, were showcased to align academic programs with policy needs. Regional breakout sessions facilitated collaboration on digital trade, fisheries, and MSME support, emphasizing the role of academia in bridging research and policy for inclusive trade governance.
On Day 3, there were regional breakout sessions, and during the Africa Cluster breakout sessions, discussions centred on strengthening intra-African trade, enhancing regional value chains, and increasing African economies’ competitiveness globally. The discussions emphasized the importance of research-driven policy engagement to address non-tariff barriers, modernize customs procedures, and align AfCFTA implementation with WTO commitments. The session also underscored the need to make preparations for the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14), scheduled for March 2026 in Cameroon, with African delegates exploring coordinated negotiation strategies and shared priorities. Prof. Chilunjika took the opportunity to inform the Africa Trade Group (ATG) members about the upcoming 4th WTO Chairs Programme Annual Conference, which will be hosted by the National University of Lesotho in Roma, Lesotho, from October 8-10, 2025. The theme will be “Climate-Friendly Trade Policies: Balancing Growth and Environmental Sustainability in Africa.” He extended an invitation for full paper submissions from African cluster members, encouraging research that combines trade growth with climate sustainability.