Obstacles removed in front of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Nigeria
The first woman and the first African to chair the World Trade Organization,
After the South Korean candidate withdrew from the nomination, Prof. CNN Business.
South Korean Trade Minister Yu Myung-hee announced his decision on Friday. Okonjo-Iweala, an economist and former Nigerian finance minister, already enjoys the support of the European Union, China, Japan and Australia.
In contrast, the United States supported Yu during the Trump administration and obstructed the elections, because the appointment requires a unanimous decision by all members of the World Trade Organization. The official decision will be made after the Biden government It elects its commercial chief.
Yu said his decision was taken in close consultation with the United States. He added that the WTO has been without a leader for a long time.
As Okonjo-Iwela stated,
The World Trade Organization really needs a leader. You need a new vision, a new face, an outsider, and someone who can implement reforms and work with the members to finally get the organization out of the current paralysis.
Okonjo-Iweala spent 25 years at the World Bank as an economist in economic development, where she also held the position of CEO. He also served as chair of the Gavi Committee, the organization that delivers vaccines to poor countries, from which he resigned in December.
