Global governance

ICC encourages WTO Members to quickly appoint a new Director-General

  • 5 February 2021

The International Chamber of Commerce is calling on World Trade Organization (WTO) Members to move quickly to appoint Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General, following the withdrawal of Ms Yoo Myung-hee’s bid.

ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO said:

“WTO Members should move quickly to appoint Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as Director-General. With geopolitical tensions high, the global economy in recession and “vaccine nationalism” threatening an equitable recovery, there is now no reason for further delay in filling this critical role.”

“As the institutional representative of more than 45 million businesses globally, ICC strongly supports Dr Okonjo-Iweala as an established global leader with the requisite vision, skills and gravitas to help the WTO better tackle COVID-19, drive much-needed organisational reforms, and re-energise the body as the central forum for global trade rulemaking.

“With geopolitical tensions high, the global economy in recession and ‘vaccine nationalism’ threatening an equitable recovery, there is now no reason for further delay in filling this critical role with the well-qualified candidate at the ready.”