WTO Set To Affirm Okonjo-Iweala As DG
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has scheduled a special meeting of its General Council for Monday (today), where Nigeria’s former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, is expected to be officially named as the Director General.
According to a statement released last week by Newsmen, the only agenda for today’s meeting is to “consider appointing the next WTO Director-General.”
Last week, the United States government officially approved the emergence of Okonjo-Iweala as the next Director-General, thus eliminating the final barrier to her quest to be the first woman and the first African to run the Geneva-based trading body.
Last October, Okonjo-Iweala had obtained the vote of 163 of the 164 members of the trade organization, but could not be proclaimed head of the WTO because the selection rules of the organization stipulate that its DG must emerge by consensus.
Yoo Myung-hee of South Korea, backed by the US, was the sole opponent of Okonjo-Iweala after other rivals retreated from the race last year. Recently, following negotiations with the United States and other major nations, she declared her withdrawal from the race.
