The World Trade Organization’s (WTO) General Council on Monday picked Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria as the new director-general.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala, the former finance minister of Nigeria and second in command at the World Bank, takes offices on March 1. She will become the first woman and first African to be chosen to lead the WTO. Her term, which is renewable, will expire on August 31, 2025.
“I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO Director-General,” Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said. “A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic. I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again. Our organization faces a great many challenges but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today.”
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala takes over from Roberto Azevedo, Brazil, who held the post from August 31, 2017 to August 31, 2020. The WTO has not had a director-general since Azevedo’s exit in August.
The WTO appellate body, which is a panel of seven individuals tasked with adjudicating trade disputes between WTO members, is currently unable to review appeals due to ongoing vacancies. The term of the last sitting Appellate Body member expired on November 30, 2020.
