Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been reappointed because the Director-Normal of the World Commerce Group (WTO) for a second four-year time period, beginning September 1, 2025.
The choice was made unanimously by WTO members throughout a particular assembly on November 28-29, 2024.
A Clean Reappointment Course of
The method for reappointment started on October 8, 2024, led by Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the WTO Normal Council.
By the nomination deadline on November 8, no different candidates had utilized, making Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala the one alternative.
After presenting her imaginative and prescient for the WTO’s future and answering questions from members, her reappointment was confirmed with out opposition.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala first took workplace on March 1, 2021, making historical past as the primary girl, the primary African, and the primary individual with U.S. citizenship to guide the WTO.
Her tenure has centered on modernizing the group to handle at the moment’s world commerce challenges.
Earlier than becoming a member of the WTO, she was well known as a talented negotiator and economist.
As Nigeria’s finance minister, she led the nation to safe an $18 billion debt reduction deal in 2005, decreasing its debt burden and serving to Nigeria earn its first sovereign debt ranking.
She additionally served as Managing Director of the World Financial institution, the place she labored on funding growth initiatives in low-income international locations.
Throughout her first time period, she labored to make the WTO more practical in dealing with fashionable commerce points like digital commerce and truthful market entry.
As she begins her second time period, her efforts will probably give attention to persevering with these reforms and strengthening world commerce cooperation.
Her first time period will finish on August 31, 2025, and her second time period will start the subsequent day. This reappointment confirms the belief of WTO members in her capacity to guide the group by the altering dynamics of worldwide commerce.