By Ayomide Otitoju
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced a special General Council meeting set for November 28-29, 2024, to advance the process of appointing the organization’s next Director-General. This meeting follows the November 8 deadline, by which only the current Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had been nominated for the position.
In a statement released on Tuesday, General Council Chair Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway confirmed that, given the lack of additional candidates, the WTO will proceed with the selection process for the incumbent, as has been customary in similar situations.
According to Ølberg, the first day of the council session will feature a presentation from Okonjo-Iweala outlining her vision for the WTO’s future, followed by a Q&A session with WTO members. On the second day, members are expected to make a formal decision on her reappointment.
The WTO initiated the selection process on October 8, inviting nominations from member countries by November 8. With Okonjo-Iweala as the sole candidate, the November General Council meeting could lead to her continuation at the helm of the global trade body.
