Okonjo-Iweala to WTO: ‘Elect DG on merit, I am best suited’

By Habiba Broger

GENEVA – Nigeria’s former finance and economy minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on Wednesday in Geneva stressed the need for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to elect a credible candidate based on merit for the position of Director-General.

Okonjo-Iweala, who is among the eight candidates vying for the position, stated this while answering questions from newsmen at a press conference held shortly after her presentation to the WTO General Council.

“Choosing a Director-General for WTO should be on merit. The best person should be chosen to lead an institution that’s having challenges.

“If it happens to be a woman, great. If it happens to be an African its also great. It should be based on merit,” she said while extolling the qualities which makes her well suited for the job.

“The WTO needs leadership and I’m someone with a strong managerial capability with the ability to forge consensus and reforms.

“These bundles of qualities in addition to my leadership quality is what I’m bringing to the WTO,” she added.

Okonjo-Iweala also spoke on various issues ranging from trade implication of COVID-19, challenges to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMSE) as well as e-commerce.

According to her,  e-commerce and the digital economy are vital forms of trade, especially in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, she said, there was a need to address the challenge of the digital divide in developing and least-developed nations – where infrastructure remained a major impediment to such form of trade.

Similarly, she emphasised the need to strengthen MSMSE – a vital part of the global economy which was adversely affected by the pandemic.

In the same vein, she also said that in tackling COVID-19, if elected as director-general, she would ensure that vaccines are accessible to poorer countries.

“When vaccines become available, there will be allocation criteria that will ensure that it’s accessible to all,” she said while noting that she will bring her experience as Chair of GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance board to bear.

Other issues addressed by Okonjo-Iweala include fostering relations among member countries to rebuild trust in restoring consensus decision making- in other to strengthen the WTO.

Alongside Okonjo-Iweala are candidates from Mexico, Egypt, Moldova, Republic of Korea, Kenya, UK and Saudi Arabia vying for the WTO Director-General position. (NAN)