WTO Chairs Programme holds Asia Network webinar on inclusive digital economy

The WTO Chairs Programme (WCP) held the first WCP Asia Network webinar on 8 April 2026, bringing together Chairholders in the Asian region to discuss "Inclusive Digital Economy in Asia: Legal, Economic and Political Perspectives". The webinar was hosted by the WCP Chair in Qatar at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, the coordinator of the Asia Network in 2026.

Osman Gulseven, the WCP Chairholder in Oman at Sultan Qaboos University, presented new empirical research on the Oman–India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. His analysis showed that, while the agreement generates gains for both countries, the benefits are asymmetric and concentrated, with India recording broader export gains. The presentation also highlighted implications for agri-food trade and food security, noting the importance of complementary domestic policies to support diversification and resilience.

Xiaowen Tan, Associate Professor at the WTO Chair Institute-China and at the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, followed with a presentation on the adequacy of existing WTO rules for governing cross-border digital services. She examined the limitations of the General Agreement on Trade in Services in the context of rapid digitalization, raising questions related to services classification, data flows, and regulatory coherence, and inviting reflection on possible future approaches to digital trade governance.

The final presentation was delivered by Taleb Warrad, the WCP Chairholder in Jordan at the University of Jordan, who shared empirical findings on the impact of digital development and trade on economic growth in countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. His analysis underscored the central role of human capital, trade openness and foreign direct investment in driving growth. He noted that the positive, yet still modest, contribution of digital development points to significant potential for further progress.

The webinar concluded with a discussion on ongoing projects by Chairs. Participants welcomed the establishment of a regular platform for academic exchange.

The webinar is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6egyLTBl1PQ

The second WCP Asia Network webinar will be held on 3 June 2026 under the auspices of the WCP Chair in Qatar.