WTO To Hold Special Meeting For Ngozi Okonjo Iweala’s Reappointment As Director-General

In a statement released on November 9, the WTO confirmed that no other nominations were received for the Director-General position after the deadline passed. This cleared the path for Okonjo-Iweala’s reappointment without the need for further competition.

Petter Olberg, the Chairman of the WTO’s General Council, communicated to member countries that the process to confirm Okonjo-Iweala’s reappointment would proceed with a special formal meeting of the General Council on November 28 and 29, 2023.

The announcement came after several days of informal consultations with WTO delegations, which confirmed there were no additional candidates for the role.

Key Details of the General Council Meeting

The special meeting will serve as a platform for members to hear directly from Okonjo-Iweala about her vision for the future of the WTO. The first day of the meeting, November 28, will feature a presentation by Okonjo-Iweala, followed by a question and answer session with WTO members. The second day of the meeting, November 29, is expected to provide an opportunity for the members to formally take a decision on her reappointment.

If there is unanimous agreement among the members, Okonjo-Iweala could be re-elected on November 29, which would extend her tenure as Director-General for another four years, until 2029.

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Okonjo-Iweala’s Commitment to a Second Term

Okonjo-Iweala’s confirmation as the sole candidate follows her initial appointment as Director-General on February 15, 2021. Under her leadership, the WTO has faced significant challenges, including the global economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as ongoing trade tensions between major economies. Her efforts have focused on reforming the organization to make it more relevant to global trade needs, and her reappointment is seen as a crucial step in maintaining stability at the WTO.

She had confirmed her willingness to serve a second term in September, and with no competing candidates, it is expected that the General Council will swiftly ratify her continued leadership of the organization.

The process to reappoint the Director-General is a formal one, governed by the WTO’s General Council. Ambassador Olberg, who has been overseeing the process, emphasized that this special meeting follows the usual procedure in cases where the incumbent is the only candidate. He highlighted that the meetings would be a vital part of advancing the organization’s efforts to ensure continuity in leadership.

The first day of the General Council meeting will provide an opportunity for members to hear from the Director-General about her vision for the WTO, followed by a session where they can engage in direct dialogue with her,” Olberg said in his message.

The decision to hold the special meeting on November 28 and 29 comes after extensive consultations with WTO members, and the outcome is likely to be a formality, assuming no objections arise.

Okonjo-Iweala’s current term as Director-General is set to end on August 31, 2025. Should she be reappointed, she will continue to lead the WTO through a critical period in global trade, with her focus on modernizing the organization and addressing pressing global trade challenges.