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WTO Members Push for Okonjo-Iweala’s Re-Election Bid
Representatives from 52 countries in the World Trade Organization (WTO) have backed a suggestion, on July 22, 2024, from the African Group to begin choosing the next Director-General sooner and have encouraged the current Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to be prepared for a second term.
As the African Group requested Okonjo-Iweala to prepare for a second term, they also suggested initiating the process for her reappointment without delay.
Members deliberated on the African Group’s request concerning the appointment of the Director-General.
According to a statement by the World Trade Organization, the association announced this at a meeting of the WTO General Council.
Many of these members commended the former Nigerian Finance Minister for her dedication and accomplishments in her initial term.
In her reply to the endorsement by WTO members, Okonjo-Iweala expressed gratitude for their support.
“Everything that I’ve accomplished, we’ve accomplished together,” she stated.
The Director General added that she values the opinions of members greatly and is inclined to view them positively.
She assured members that she would respond soon with her decision.
The Chair of the General Council, Petter Ølberg, from Norway, stated that he received complete, widespread, and robust endorsement.
Support was expressed for the current Director-General’s willingness to make herself available for re-election.
There was also an endorsement for initiating the process at the earliest opportunity.
The Chair announced plans to contact delegations in the upcoming days and weeks.
About Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Okonjo-Iweala, born June 13, 1954, is a Nigerian-American economist and international development expert.
She holds a Ph.D. in Regional Economics and Development from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
She has served as the Director-General of WTO since March 2021, becoming the first woman and African to hold this position.
Prior to her WTO role, Okonjo-Iweala held various high-profile positions, including two terms as Nigeria’s Finance Minister and briefly as Foreign Minister.
She has earned popularity for her work in economic reform, transparency, and advocacy for global health initiatives.
Her impact as the Director-General of WTO
As the Director-General of the organization, she has focused on several key areas and achieved notable milestones such as:
COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution: Okonjo-Iweala played a critical role in addressing the global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.
She has been a vocal advocate for vaccine equity, pushing for increased production and distribution to developing countries.
Her efforts have included facilitating discussions to waive intellectual property rights for vaccines temporarily.
Trade Facilitation: She has been instrumental in promoting trade facilitation measures to ensure smoother and more efficient global trade processes.
This includes efforts to cut red tape and simplify customs procedures, which can help reduce the cost and time of trade, particularly for developing countries.
Environmental Sustainability: Okonjo-Iweala has emphasized the importance of integrating environmental sustainability into trade policies.
She has advocated for policies that support green technologies and sustainable development, thereby recognizing the role of trade in addressing climate change.
Inclusivity in Trade: A major focus of her tenure has been on making the global trading system more inclusive.
She has highlighted the need to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women, and marginalized groups in gaining better access to global markets.
Reforming the WTO:Under her leadership, she has spearheaded efforts to reform the WTO.
Her aim is to make it more responsive and effective in addressing contemporary global trade challenges.
She has focused on improving the dispute resolution mechanism.
Additionally, she has updated trade rules to reflect the realities of the digital economy and other modern issues.
These achievements reflect her commitment to making the WTO a more effective and inclusive organization in addressing global trade challenges.
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