WTO: ‘We Need To Get Global Economy Going Again’, Okonjo-Iweala Reacts To Appointment
The newly-appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said that the organisation would get the global economy running again during her tenure as the WTO DG.
She said this on Monday while reacting to her appointment , which takes effect from March 1, 2021.
She also expressed willingness to make the WTO stronger , adding that the organisation would adapt to “ realities of today” .
She said, “I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO Director -General,” said Dr Okonjo-Iweala.
“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.”
The former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala was appointed as WTO DG on Monday
Okonjo-Iweala, whose tenure begins March 1, is the first woman and African to hold the position.
The WTO stated this in a tweet on Monday, saying, “Ngozi 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.
“WTO members took the decision to appoint @NOIweala at a special meeting of the General Council, following a selection process that included eight candidates from around the world #WTODG.”
The former Minister had, a few days ago , received the backing of the administration of US President Joe Biden for the role.
Nigeria’s first woman finance minister trained as a development economist – she has degrees from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard.
66-year-old Iweala spent a quarter of a century at the World Bank, rising to be managing director and running for the top role in 2012, and is seen as a trailblazer in her home country.
