WTO Confirms Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala As Sole Candidate For Director-General Position

The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has confirmed that Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current director-general, is the sole candidate for the position as her first term nears its conclusion.

According to a statement released by the WTO on Saturday, Okonjo-Iweala expressed her willingness to serve a second four-year term on September 16.

This development solidifies her path to reappointment, as no other candidates have stepped forward.

The WTO officially commenced the process of appointing its next director-general on October 8, giving member nations until November 8 to submit their nominations.

In a communication to WTO members, Petter Olberg, chair of the WTO’s General Council, confirmed that no additional nominations were received by the November 8 deadline.

This effectively positions Okonjo-Iweala to continue her leadership at the global trade body.

The statement reads, “Under the procedures for the appointment of Directors-General (WT/L/509), I am required to communicate to Members a consolidated list of candidatures received for ... 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.”

The organisation noted that the general council chair would communicate the next steps in the process soon.

WTO added that Okonjo-Iweala’s current term will come to an end on August 31, 2025.

On February 15, 2021, Okonjo-Iweala was appointed as the director-general of the WTO.

She made history as the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO.

Okonjo-Iweala’s second-term bid had been in doubt after Donald Trump’s victory in the United States presidential election on Wednesday.

Trump’s administration blocked her nomination in October 2020, in support of Yoo Myung-hee, former South Korean trade minister.

However, after losing his second-term presidential bid in November of the same year, Joe Biden’s administration backed Okonjo-Iweala for the WTO DG job.