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  Addressing the WTO General Council immediately after taking office on 1 March, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on members to “do things differently” to achieve reforms necessary to keep the WTO relevant, starting with swift action to curb harmful fisheries subsidies, and to help scale up COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution. The new head of the WTO noted that high expectations for her tenure can only be met if members are willing to compromise and reach agreements. DG Okonjo-Iweala: WTO can deliver results if members “accept we can do things differently” DG Okonjo-Iweala suggested that prospects for a successful Twelfth Ministerial Conference would be enhanced if members target a manageable number of deliverables for this year, and set up longer work programmes to address issues that cannot realistically be resolved within that timeframe. Her full remarks are below: Mr Chairman, Excellencies, Ladies & Gentlemen, Good morning. I am delighted to be with ...

After series of delay,  disapproval, Nigeria’s Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has been named the director-general of World Trade Organisation. The history: Okonjo-Iweala is the first African and first woman to lead the organisation.  The then American president Donald Trump was one of the disapproval that threw its weight behind South Korea Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee.  While Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala got approvals from many member countries and key ambassadors of the trade organisation recommended her for the job. She's finally appointed the DG of the organisation on Monday. The Twist: The victory of President Joe Biden of America changed the whole game after former President Donald Trump disapproval. Last week the Joe Biden administration endorsed former Nigerian finance minister and World Bank chief, paving her way to the top notch job. The former head of the WTO, Brazilian career diplomat Roberto Azevedo stepped down last August, a year ahead of schedule.  The process of...

Nigeria’s Okonjo-Iweala is finally close to leading WTO after South Korean candidate quits.  Yoo Myung-hee says her decision to pull out was made in ‘close consultation’ with US Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a step closer to becoming director-general of the World Trade Organization after South Korea’s candidate quit the race following months of uncertainty over the body’s leadership. Yoo Myung-hee, the South Korean trade minister who had not stood down from the race despite weaker support compared to her rival last year, said on Friday the future of the WTO had become “uncertain” because of the prolonged leadership battle. The move paves the way for Okonjo-Iweala, a former finance minister in Nigeria who battled corruption in her country, to be the first WTO leader from Africa. But her appointment will still require US approval. Yoo, the only candidate still serving as a trade minister, said her decision was made in “close consultation” with the US. “South Korea will actively co...