The Director-General(DG) of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has officially announced her intention to seek another four-year term as head of the organisation.
She announced her decision for a second term weeks after 58 member countries supported a proposal from the African Group of WTO for her to run for a second term as the DG of the organisation in July.
The DG had appreciated the support from the members and said she would give her feedback to them soon.
In a statement to Reuters on Monday conveying her feedback, Okonjo-Iweala said she is ready to “compete”.
“I would like to be part of this chapter of the WTO story and I stand ready to compete for the position,” she said.
“For my second term, I intend to focus on delivering.”
She also said that among the priorities were addressing “unfinished business”.
In 2020, the administration of former United States President Donald Trump had allegedly obstructed Okonjo-Iweala’s appointment. It was assumed that the move was an attack on an organisation he had previously described as “horrible”.
The United States had favoured her opponent; South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee, because the WTO needed “someone with real, hands-on experience in the field”. However, Okonjo-Iweala secured US backing after Joe Biden defeated Trump in the presidential election in 2020.
Speaking on the odds of getting limited chances if Trump wins the forthcoming election, she said, “I don’t focus on that because I have no control”.
Commenting on the job, the WTO chief admitted it was difficult. She admitted that the geopolitical tensions among WTO’s 166 members “was a significant challenge”.
“It is tough, you know, very tough. There’s no getting away from that. But it’s also a job that makes me want to get out of bed in the morning,” she added.
Okonjo-Iweala’s term expires at the end of August 2025 and she is eligible for a second four-year term.
The former Nigerian minister assumed office as DG WTO on March 1, 2021 for a single term of four years.
