Presentation of Ms. Hilda Al-Hinai

Professional background  and Multilateral Engagement or

A little bit about herself :

A native of Oman, Ms. Hilda Al-Hinai, the Secretary-General of the Arab-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CASCI), brings 30 years of experience working with governments, the private sector, and regional and international organizations. Before joining CASCI, she served as a diplomat at Oman’s Mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva for over 20 years. Her responsibilities included defending and representing Oman’s interests in various international organizations, including the WTO, WIPO, UNCTAD, and the International Trade Centre (ITC). She participated WTO negotiations for Oman’s accession and chaired the negotiations for Seychelles’ accession to the WTO. Prior to her diplomatic career, she worked for eight years at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Oman.

Focus on her role as Secretary-General of CASCI:

As the Secretary-General of CASCI, Ms. Al-Hinai emphasizes the promotion of trade and investments between the 22 Arab countries and Switzerland. She encourages the accession of the remaining Arab countries to the WTO and actively seeks investment opportunities in key sectors such as advanced technologies, financial services, e-commerce, green energy, healthcare, tourism, logistics, agriculture, education, and vocational training.

Role and Activities of CASCI:

Founded in 1974, the Arab-Swiss Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CASCI) is the essentiel link between Switzerland and the Arab countries within the Arab League. Ms. Al-Hinai highlights CASCI’s role in promoting business, trade, and investments between the two regions. The Chamber provides advisory services to companies seeking opportunities in the Arab world or Switzerland, organizes networking events, and plans prospecting missions. Ms Al-Hinai is committed to leveraging these assets for CASCI’s mission. She expresses her enthusiasm for working closely with Arab and Swiss Chambers of Commerce, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), investment promotion and export development agencies, trade facilitation authorities, and trade finance agencies.

Economic Diversification and the Role of SMEs:

Supporting the economic diversification of Arab countries, Ms. Al-Hinai highlights the cultural and economic wealth that Arab countries can offer the world, such as tourism, agriculture and renewable energies, beyond traditional resources like gas and oil.

Ms. Al-Hinai maintains that many Arab countries are implementing plans for economic diversification and see Switzerland as the best place to learn how to diversify the economy.

She pays special attention to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and creative industries, underscoring their crucial role in the economic growth of many Arab countries. She also highlights the vital role of women in these sectors and is committed to promoting it.

Inclusion of young people in Economic Initiatives:

Recognizing the influence of the younger generation, Ms Al-Hinai expresses her commitment to involving women and youth in the Chamber’s initiatives, considering them key players in shaping the future.

Economic Diplomacy and Trade for Peace:

Ms. Al-Hinai underscores the growing importance of economic diplomacy in the Arab world, noting a shift toward prioritizing investments, trade, and economic cooperation over purely political considerations. She is passionate about the “Trade for Peace” initiative at the WTO, believing that promoting trade can contribute to conflict resolution by fostering economic interdependence.

Conclusion and Expectations:

Expressing her enthusiasm to collaborate with the Arab and Swiss Chambers of Commerce, the ICC, investment promotion and export development agencies, and trade facilitation authorities, Ms. Al-Hinai invites active participation in the development of trade and investment relations.