Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala pushes for second term, emerges sole candidate for WTO DG

The current Director General of the World Trade Organisation, WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has signified interest to run for a second term.

To this end, Okonjo-Iweala emerged as the sole candidate of the WTO DG.

The organisation formally began the process to appoint its next DG on October 8.

WTO allowed members until November 8 to submit nominations.

This was disclosed in a message to members, by the Chairman of WTO General Council, Petter Olberg.

Olberg said no additional nominations were received by the November 8 deadline.

The statement reads: “Under the procedures for the appointment of Directors-General (WT/L/509), I am required to communicate to nembers 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.

“I would like to advise members that at the end of the nomination period the only candidacy received for this post is from Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the incumbent director-general.

“The notification received from Dr Okonjo-Iweala pursuant to paragraph 12 of the Procedures in WT/L/509, was circulated to all members together with my communication in document JOB/GC/406, dated 16 September 2024.”