WHO Chief congratulates Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on reappointment as WTO Director-General
Dec 01, 2024
Geneva [Switzerland], December 1: The Director-General of the World Health
Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, congratulated Ngozi Okonjo-
Iweala on her reappointment as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization
(WTO) for a second term.
In a post on the social media platform, X, Ghebreyesus said, "Congratulations, my sister
Looking forward to continuing our close collaboration".
In a press statement, The WTO announced, "The General Council of the World Trade
Organization (WTO) agreed on 29 November by consensus to reappoint Dr. Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General for a second four-year term, set to begin on 1
September 2025. This decision reflects broad recognition of her exceptional leadership
and strategic vision for the future of the WTO".
It was noted that the reappointment process, initiated on October 8, 2024, was
overseen by Ambassador Petter Olberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council.
According to the WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala first assumed oFFice as Director-General on
March 1, 2021, becoming the first woman and first African to lead the WTO. Her first
term concludes on August 31, 2025. Her reappointment highlights the strong support
for her eFForts to enhance the WTO's relevance and capacity in addressing the evolving
challenges of global trade.
On her reappointment, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala thanked the members and highlighted the
challenges she plans to address in the next four years.
"While the WTO faces a significant number of challenges and has a heavy workload to
accomplish, it is also confronted by new opportunities which, if it can be seized, could
make a world of diFFerence in the lives of the ordinary people that members are here to
serve, and would also make a diFFerence in preserving and sustaining our planet", she
said.
She also added, "My vision for the next four years is a WTO that delivers results by
working on legacy agreements and other issues, focuses on reforms to make it fit for
purpose for the 21st century and seizes exciting new opportunities in world trade".
Source: Times of Oman
