Guzmán congratulated Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on becoming the first female Director-General of the WTO

“Congratulations to the new WTO Director-General @NOIweala. We hope to work together for an international trading system for a more inclusive, equitable and environmentally sustainable world economy that creates more opportunities in less developed countries, ”the minister said on social media.

At 66, this Nigerian enters the inner circle of women in senior institutional positions around the world. It is “a historic moment”, summed up the WTO, after his appointment.

“It is both motivating and intimidating as I take the helm of the WTO at a time of great uncertainty and great challenges,” said Okonjo-Iweala, who will take office in March for a renewable four-year term. .

“A strong WTO is essential if we are to fully and quickly recover from the devastation caused by the covid-19 pandemic,” he continued.

“Our organization faces many challenges but by working together, collectively, we can make the WTO stronger, more agile and better adapted to current realities”, added the new Director General of the institution, which has 164 countries members and its headquarters in Geneva.

Among his long list of tasks, he ensured that his top three priorities over the next 100 days were: pandemic response, fisheries subsidies and the dispute settlement body (the tribunal of the WTO) torpedoed by the ex-American government. President Donald Trump.

Compliments

Her appointment was quickly greeted by other women, also at the head of powerful institutions.

“Congratulations to my friend Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who became the first female Director General of the WTO,” tweeted Christine Lagarde., first President of the European Central Bank and former Director of the IMF, saluting “her firm will and determination (which) will lead her to relentlessly promote free trade for the benefit of the populations of the world”.

For her part, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen said she was “very happy to see an African woman at the head of the WTO”. This is “a historic moment for the whole world,” he said.

Okonjo-Iweala was the only candidate remaining in the race, thanks to broad consensus and support from the African Union and European Union, as well as the United States after the change of authority.

At the end of October, the Trump administration, which in four years had done everything to weaken the organization, blocked the emerging consensus around the Nigerian.

“She was not chosen because she is a woman or because she is from Africa, but because she stood out as the candidate with the best qualifications, experience and qualities for this arduous task. “a European diplomat told AFP.

Twice Minister of Finance and Head of Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Portfolio for two months, Okonjo-Iweala started her career at the World Bank in 1982, where she worked for 25 years. In 2012, she failed to become president of this financial institution and the post went to the American-Korean Jim Yong Kim.

He will now be at the head of an institution which, since its creation in 1995, has been managed by six men: three Europeans, a New Zealander, a Thai and a Brazilian.

“The United States looks forward to working with Dr. Okonjo-Iweala to ensure that this institution lives up to its potential as an agency that promotes equitable economic growth in trade,” the US diplomat said. David Bisbee at the Monday meeting in Geneva. .

In Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari said Okonjo-Iweala is embarking on a “daunting task in the service of humanity” but said he is confident that “his integrity and passion for development will continue to deliver results. positive “.