The former Minister of finance in Nigeria, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been confirmed as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation.
She stands to be the first woman and the first African in history to lead the international trade body.
“This is a very significant moment for the WTO,” said General Council Chair David Walker of New Zealand who, together with co-facilitators Amb. Dacio Castillo (Honduras) and Amb. Harald Aspelund (Iceland) led the nine-month DG selection process.
“On behalf of the General Council, I extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her appointment as the WTO’s next Director-General and formally welcome her to this General Council meeting.
“on behalf of all members I wish to sincerely thank you for your graciousness in these exceptional months, and for your patience. We look forward to collaborating closely with you, Dr Ngozi, and I am certain that all members will work with you constructively during your tenure as Director-General to shape the future of this organization.”
Dr Okonjo-Iweala gave a remarkable statement, noting that her key priority would be to work with her Co-members to quickly address the economic and health consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO Director-General,” she said. “A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again.
Our organization faces a great many challenges but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today.”
She’s expected to resume to office officially 1st of March 2021, which will expire on August 31, 2025.
Comments