Newly appointed Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has expressed her commitment to resuscitate the global economy taking into consideration the realities of the day.
Okonjo-Iweala stated her resolution to getting the global economy running again while she delivered her acceptance speech.
Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment was in a statement by the WTO, thereby making the erstwhile World Bank Managing Director the first black, first African, and first female to lead the trade organisation.
She takes over from Roberto Azevêdo, who stepped down August 31, 2020, a year before the expiration of his mandate.
Her words: “I am honoured to have been selected by WTO members as WTO DG. A strong WTO is vital if we are to recover fully and rapidly from the devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I look forward to working with members to shape and implement the policy responses we need to get the global economy going again. Our organisation faces a great many challenges but working together we can collectively make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to the realities of today.”
Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment will officially commence by March 1 2021, while her term will expire on August 31, 2025, but it could be renewed
