AFRICA’S RACE FOR TOP POSITION AT WORLD TRADE ORGANISATION

Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya are in the race for the top position at the World Trade Organization (WTO). They join candidates from U.K, Mexico, Moldova, and South Korea.

The successful candidate will replace outgoing director-general Roberto Azevedo, a brazilian career diplomat who is stepping down by end of August. 

Meet the candidates going for the top job;

Nigerian former foreign and finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
Kenya’s former WTO general council chair Amina Mohamed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mexico’s former WTO deputy director-general Jesus Seade Kuri
Britain’s first post-Brexit international trade secretary Liam Fox

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee
Egyptian former diplomat Hamid Mamdouh

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moldovan former foreign minister Tudor Ulianovschi
Saudi Arabia’s former economy and planning minister Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The World Trade Organisation WTO is a place where member governments try to sort out the trade problems they face with each other. It is also a forum for governments to negotiate trade agreements. Since the WTO was created in 1995, three of its directors-general were from Europe, while one each came from Oceania, Asia and South America.

This is Africa’s opportunity to produce a leader at the global trade body. However, African nations have so far failed to convene around a single candidate. There are three Africans, and three women in race. 

 

Source: VOA News

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