At the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia, experts emphasized the importance of strengthening global trade for the future. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), highlighted that despite recent disruptions, there’s a big opportunity for countries to rebuild a more solid global trading system.
She explained that today’s global trade is somewhat unstable, even though it has a strong core. She urged the European Union (EU) to take a leading role in fixing and reforming international trade policies. Okonjo-Iweala believes that a healthier global trade system can create more and better jobs for people worldwide.
Jozef Sikela, the EU’s Commissioner for International Partnerships, shared that the EU’s trade relationships with other countries will be key to the region’s growth in the coming years. Meanwhile, Matevz Frangez from Slovenia’s Ministry of Economy pointed out the need to protect the core principles of the WTO. He also mentioned that the recent EU-US trade deal felt unfair and unbalanced.
Later at the forum, a new initiative called Future 500 was launched. This platform aims to find 500 promising companies from Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It will connect these startups with investors and partners to help them grow and gain global visibility. The project is led by the Atlantic Council and the Bled School of Management.
The Bled Strategic Forum, now in its 20th year, is a major event where world leaders, policymakers, academics, and business leaders come together to discuss Europe’s role in a changing world. This year’s theme is “A Runaway World,” highlighting the fast-moving and unpredictable global landscape.
Since it started in 2006, the forum has become Slovenia’s most important platform for discussing foreign policy and economic issues, helping shape Europe’s future in a complex international scene.
