Okonjo-Iweala’s Tenure As WTO DG Begins March 1

The tenure of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation would commence on March 1 this year.

The WTO confirmed her resumption date in a tweet shortly after she was appointed as the new DG of the institution.

It said, “Okonjo-Iweala from Nigeria is appointed as the next WTO Director-General. Dr Okonjo-Iweala makes history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO . Her term starts on the 1st of March 2021.

Okonjo-Iweala had identified various challenges affecting the WTO as a multilateral organization.

She had shared her thoughts on possible solutions that would be brought on board for discussion, consideration and implementation with a view to ensuring that the full mandates and functions of the WTO are enforced in accordance with the highest expectations of members.

She had also assured that she would work hard, with the support of members, to uphold the image and integrity of the WTO as a multilateral institution that was established to serve members equally.

Likewise, she will put more effort towards mediating among members to ensure that factors responsible for divergences on various negotiating issues are addressed and streamlined so that the MC-12 will have fruitful outcomes on some basic issues.

As a reformer, she has undertaken to work with members on the WTO reform agenda, including the urgent need to address the impasse of the Appellate in the Dispute Settlement Body in order for the WTO to be more focused, achievement oriented and acceptable to all members.

New initiatives with the support of members will be introduced to source for more funds from other multilateral financial institutions in order to assist members in building their capacity to fully comply with their obligations and new trade initiatives in the WTO.