Inaugural WTO ministerial conference is held

The inaugural World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministerial conference was held at the Singapore International Conference and Exhibition Centre (SICEC) located at Suntec City from 9 to 13 December 1996. It was the first major global trade conference held in Asia and the largest international event held in Singapore at that time.^[1] The conference was chaired by then Trade and Industry Minister Yeo Cheow Tong. Mah Bow Tan, then the communications minister, led the Singapore delegation.^[2] One of the key objectives of the conference was to review the implementation of the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) agreements and commitments. The conference provided the world’s trade ministers with a platform to reconcile their differences on key issues, create new pacts and work towards the liberalisation of global trade.^[3]

The conference was declared a success by the 2,700 delegates from the various countries who attended.^[4] To organise the conference, Singapore utilised a budget of about S$18 million^[5] and mobilised around 1,500 personnel as volunteer liaison officers, drivers, and security and convention centre staff.^[6] Commemorative items such as coins, stamps, and MRT and phone cards were also produced.^[7] At the end of the conference, a joint declaration was issued by the 127 trade ministers who pledged their commitment to work together for a freer and fairer system of global trade.^[8]

References
1. Ngoo, I. (1996, January 4). Inaugural WTO meet in Singapore should be ‘non-confrontational’. The Straits Times, p. 2. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
2. Lim, K. C. (1996, December 7). What to expect at WTO meeting. The Straits Times, p. 66. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
3.  The Straits Times, 7 Dec 1996, p. 66.
4. Yeo, S. (1996, December 14). ‘All S’pore responsible for success of the WTO’. The Straits Times, p. 62. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
5. Wong, D. (1996, September 22). Meeting ‘will benefit Singapore’. The Straits Times, p. 3. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
6. Yeo, S. (1996, September 29). Govt, Suntec City gear up for huge WTO conference. The Straits Times, p. 34. Retrieved from NewspaperSG; The Straits Times, 14 Dec 1996, p. 62.
7. Coins lead off items to commemorate WTO’s first ministerial conference. (1996, September 22). The Straits Times, p. 33. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
8. Yang Razali Kassim. (1996, December 14). Singapore declaration is a feat, say WTO members. The Business Times, p. 1. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.