Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala Set For Second Term As WTO Director-General

The World Trade Organization (WTO) has confirmed that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current Director-General, is the sole candidate for reappointment as her first term nears its conclusion.

The WTO issued a statement on Saturday confirming Okonjo-Iweala’s willingness to serve a second four-year term, which she communicated on September 16.

EDITOR’S PICKS

EKO HOT BLOG reports that this confirmation paves the way for Okonjo-Iweala’s reappointment, as no other candidates have emerged.

The process of appointing the next Director-General officially began on October 8, with member nations given until November 8 to submit nominations.

Petter Olberg, the Chair of the WTO’s General Council, confirmed that the deadline had passed without any additional nominations, effectively positioning Okonjo-Iweala for a second term.

The WTO statement noted, “Under the procedures for the appointment of Directors-General (WT/L/509),

“I am required to communicate to Members a consolidated list of candidatures received for the post of Director-General immediately after the close of the nomination period, in this case, 8 November 2024.”

Olberg added that the only nomination received was from Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Okonjo-Iweala’s current term will conclude on August 31, 2025. She was appointed as Director-General on February 15, 2021, making history as the first woman and first African to hold the position.

Her second-term candidacy faced opposition during the Trump administration, which blocked her nomination in favor of Yoo Myung-hee, the former South Korean trade minister.

However, after Joe Biden’s administration took office following Trump’s loss in the 2020 election, they threw their support behind Okonjo-Iweala, leading to her historic appointment.

FURTHER READING