of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okono-Iweala.
Nigeria is currently reaching out to all members of the
World Trade Organisation (WTO) in its bid to ensure Dr Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala becomes the next Director-General of the global trade
body.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment,
Ambassador Mariam Katagum, disclosed this in a statement on
Friday.
She stated that the Federal Government was already in talks with
the United States of America and South Korea to overcome the
impasse.
Katagum noted that this was to persuade the countries,
especially the U.S. to join the consensus in adopting the
recommendation of the appointment of Dr Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s
former Minister of Finance, as WTO DG.
“We shall keep you updated on this issue and hope that, we would
achieve the desired goal of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala securing
appointment as the first African and the first female to head the
WTO,” she said.
She added, “Nigeria wishes to express profound appreciation to
all members of the WTO that have supported Dr Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala for the post of WTO Director-General and would reach
out to other countries to secure the consensus needed in the final
decision on her appointment as the next Director-General of the
WTO.”
State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Ambassador Mariam
Katagum, Photo: Twitter- @TradeInvestNG
Katagum, who chairs the Campaign Strategy Team for Nigeria’s
DG-WTO candidate, hinted that the team held an emergency virtual
meeting on Friday.
She explained that the meeting was to review and strategise on
the way forward in the light of recent developments in the
selection process for the appointment of the WTO chief.
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The minister noted that the third and final round of
consultations for the selection of the DG-WTO, which commenced in
Geneva on October 19, 2020, was concluded on Tuesday.
She added that the Chair of the WTO General Council, Ambassador
David Walker of New Zealand, with the facilitators of the selection
process, as well as the Chair of the Dispute Settlement Body and
the Chair of the Trade Policy Review Body (Troika), informed the
WTO members that Dr Okonjo-Iweala secured overwhelming support of
members, both in terms of numbers and geographical spread.
At the meeting of WTO Heads of Delegation in Geneva held on
Wednesday, the Nigerian candidate was said to have emerged as the
contender most likely to gain consensus as DG-WTO.
Nigeria’s Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (R) and South Korean Trade
Minister, Yoo Myung-hee (L). Both women are in the running to lead
the World Trade Organisation. Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP
However, her appointment is expected to be adopted by consensus
of all members, in line with WTO decision-making procedure at a
Special General Council Meeting scheduled for November 9.
The U.S. had stated reservations on the outcome of the final
round in view of the fact that its preference was still the
candidate of South Korea.
It also said it would not join the consensus in selecting Dr
Okonjo-Iweala as DG-WTO at the forthcoming Special General
Council.