Hon Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala from Nigeria is appointed as the next WTO Director General. Dr Okonjo Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO.
Her term stars on the 1 /03/2021.
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Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was appointed the seventh Director-General of the World Trade Organization on Monday, making her the first woman and the first African to head the multilateral trade body from March 1, 2021 to August 31, 2025.
“The decision was taken by consensus at a special meeting today of the organization's General Council,” said an official.
Okonjo-Iweala is the former Finance Minister of Nigeria and World Bank economist.
The US, under the Donald Trump-administration, had blocked Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment in October despite strong endorsement from almost all WTO members including India.
However, the Joe Biden administration, extended the US’ support to Okonjo-Iweala earlier this month following which South Korea’s candidate-Yoo Myung-hee- withdrew from the race.
Okonjo-Iweala said a key priority for her would be to work with members to quickly address the economic and health consequences brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said, adding that the WTO faces many challenges.
She takes charge at a time when developed countries have challenged the development agenda of the WTO such as special and differential treatment provisions and opposed an India-South Africa joint proposal for a temporary waiver of TRIPS obligations to ensure uninterrupted flow of vaccines to the developing and least developed countries.
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Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala appointed WTO Director-General
Her term stars on the 1 /03/2021.
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Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was appointed the seventh Director-General of the World Trade Organization on Monday, making her the first woman and the first African to head the multilateral trade body from March 1, 2021 to August 31, 2025.
“The decision was taken by consensus at a special meeting today of the organization's General Council,” said an official.
Okonjo-Iweala is the former Finance Minister of Nigeria and World Bank economist.
The US, under the Donald Trump-administration, had blocked Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment in October despite strong endorsement from almost all WTO members including India.
However, the Joe Biden administration, extended the US’ support to Okonjo-Iweala earlier this month following which South Korea’s candidate-Yoo Myung-hee- withdrew from the race.
Okonjo-Iweala said a key priority for her would be to work with members to quickly address the economic and health consequences brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said, adding that the WTO faces many challenges.
She takes charge at a time when developed countries have challenged the development agenda of the WTO such as special and differential treatment provisions and opposed an India-South Africa joint proposal for a temporary waiver of TRIPS obligations to ensure uninterrupted flow of vaccines to the developing and least developed countries.
Read more at:
Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala appointed WTO Director-General
