Okonjo-Iweala, 4 Others Qualify Next Round Of WTO Contest

The candidates that qualified include Yoo Myung-hee of the Republic of Korea, Amina C. Mohamed of Kenya, Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Liam Fox of the United Kingdom.

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was the economy/finance minister in former president Jonathan's cabinet / Photo credit: foreignaffairs.com
Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala was the economy/finance minister in former president Jonathan's cabinet / Photo credit: foreignaffairs.com

Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is among five candidates that have qualified to contest the next stage for the election of a director-general for the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The WTO said this in a statement on Friday.

The five candidates were selected by member countries of the WTO. Only three were eliminated.

READ ALSO: WTO Ignores Egypt, Accepts Nomination Of Okonjo-Iweala

The candidates that qualified include Yoo Myung-hee of the Republic of Korea, Amina C. Mohamed of Kenya, Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Liam Fox of the United Kingdom.

Jesus Seade Kuri of Mexico, Tudor Ulianovschi of Moldova and Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh of Egypt all did not make it.

David Walker, the general council chair for the selection committee, said the second phase of consultations will begin on September 24 and end on October 6.

READ ALSO: ECOWAS Endorses Okonjo-Iweala For WTO Job

During this time, members will be asked in the confidential consultations to express two preferences to the facilitators thus reducing the number of candidates from five to two.

The WTO said, “Following this process, Ambassador Walker will call another heads of delegations meeting at which the results will be announced to the WTO membership. The timetable for the third and final round of consultations will be announced at that time.”

The Interview Editors

Written by The Interview Editors

The Interview is a niche publication, targeting leaders and aspiring leaders in business, politics, entertainment, sports, arts, the professions and others within society’s upper middle class and high-end segment in Nigeria.