Geneva [Switzerland]: Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been reappointed as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) for a second four-year term, set to begin on September 1, 2025. This decision, made by consensus during the WTO General Council meeting on November 29, reflects broad recognition of her exceptional leadership and strategic vision.
Congratulations, my sister @NOIweala! The trust @wto Member States have invested in you is well deserved. Looking forward to continuing our close collaboration. https://t.co/vuFnO9EXrJ
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) November 29, 2024
Congratulations from the Global Community
World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, congratulated Okonjo-Iweala on social media, posting:
“Congratulations, my sister @NOIweala! The trust @wto Member States have invested in you is well deserved. Looking forward to continuing our close collaboration.”
A Trailblazing Leader
Okonjo-Iweala made history on March 1, 2021, by becoming the first woman and first African to lead the WTO. Her reappointment underscores member states’ strong support for her initiatives to enhance the WTO’s relevance and adapt to the dynamic challenges of global trade.
In her statement following the reappointment, she expressed gratitude to WTO members and outlined her priorities for the next term:
“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 seized, could make a world of difference in the lives of ordinary people and in sustaining our planet.”
She emphasized her vision for a WTO that delivers results, undertakes necessary reforms, and embraces new opportunities to shape the future of global trade.
Strategic Leadership for the Future
The reappointment process, initiated in October 2024 and overseen by Ambassador Petter Olberg of Norway, reflects the confidence in her leadership. Her next term will focus on addressing key issues, such as:
- Reforming WTO frameworks to make them fit for the 21st century.
- Building on legacy agreements to ensure equitable trade.
- Seizing new opportunities to address global trade challenges and climate sustainability.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s continued leadership at the WTO reaffirms her role as a pivotal figure in shaping the future of international trade, fostering cooperation, and addressing pressing global challenges.