By Sharon Atieno
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has been reappointed as the World Trade Organization’s Director General for a second four-year term.
The decision was reached through a consensus by the WTO‘s General Council on 29th November. This was preceded by a presentation where Dr. Okonjo-Iweala outlined her vision for the organization and had a question and answer session with Members.
The reappointment process, initiated on 8th October 2024, was overseen by Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council. With no additional nominations submitted by the 8th November deadline, Dr. Okonjo-Iweala stood as the sole candidate. The process was conducted in a fully open and transparent adhering to the WTO’s “Procedures for the Appointment of Directors-General” (WT/L/509).
“The General Council commends Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for her outstanding leadership during her first term. Amid significant global economic challenges, she strengthened the WTO’s ability to support its members and set a forward-looking agenda for the organization. Her leadership was instrumental in securing meaningful outcomes at pivotal moments, including the 12th and 13th Ministerial Conferences (MC12 and MC13), where major milestones were achieved,” said Ambassador Ølberg.
“As we look ahead, the Council fully supports Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s commitment to ensuring that the WTO remains responsive, inclusive, and results-driven. Her leadership will be critical as the organization continues to advance a resilient, rules-based, and equitable global trading system.”
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala first assumed office as Director-General on 1 March 2021, becoming the first woman and first African to lead the WTO. Her first term concludes on 31 August 2025 while the second commences on 1st September 2025. Her reappointment highlights the strong support for her efforts to enhance the WTO’s relevance and capacity in addressing the evolving challenges of global trade.
Acknowledging that the world, the multilateral trading system and WTO were going through numerous challenges, she said: “My vision for the next four years is a WTO that delivers results by working on legacy agreements and other issues, focuses on reforms to make it fit for purpose for the 21st century and seizes exciting new opportunities in world trade.”
In the mid and short term, her vision focuses on completing the Fisheries Subsidies Agreement, delivering Investment Facilitation for Development and reforming the Dispute Settlement System.
Additionally, before the 14th Ministerial Conference (MC14), Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is looking forward to completing the work on Least developed country (LDC) graduation, the G90 Agreement-specific proposals (ASPs), and related policy space issues.
Also, making ready the reports on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Small Vulnerable Economies (SVEs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) that Ministers requested during MC13, as well as make progress on the e-commerce moratorium and work program.
In the long term, she will work with Members to implement agreements coming from MC14 and working on the agenda of the Conference.
“I hope we can work on new agreements or Ministerial decisions that would support industrialization, increase value addition and supply chain decentralisation to developing Members so that they can accelerate growth and create jobs needed to keep their young people gainfully employed,” Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said.
She also wants to support Members to relook the Subsidies and Countervailing Measures Agreement to reform it so that it can deal with level playing field issue, whilst acknowledging the imperative of new types of subsidies.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala would also want the organization to re-examine the possibility for an environmental goods and services agreement that could help advance the green transition and fight climate change.
Other areas of focus include a supportive agreement on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), especially women-led MSMES to drive their integration into regional and global value chains. Building on the Services Domestic Regulation Agreement using a multilateral approach to services trade. Looking at Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture to seize the advantages of Artificial Intelligence, precision farming, and new science of water to reach agreements that can help feed the world.
Her vision also calls for partnership with other multilaterals such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and others to deliver on the trade agenda.
Additionally, she said she would continue to work to strengthen the WTO Secretariat to provide the strong support to Members to seize opportunities and tackle challenges.
