Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the current Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has announced her intention to pursue a second four-year term at the helm of the global trade body.
The former Nigerian Finance Minister revealed her decision in an interview with Reuters, stating her desire to continue and complete the “unfinished business” from her first tenure.
“I would like to be part of this chapter of the WTO story, and I stand ready to compete for the position,” Okonjo-Iweala said. She emphasized that her second term would be focused on delivering key priorities, particularly addressing ongoing challenges within the organization.
In her statement, Okonjo-Iweala highlighted her dedication to advancing reforms and improving the efficiency of the WTO during her first term. As her current mandate draws to a close on August 31, 2025, she has expressed her eagerness to build on the progress made since she took office in March 2021 as the first female and African leader of the 30-year-old institution.
For her second term, Okonjo-Iweala reiterated her commitment to strengthening the multilateral trading system and driving positive changes. “I intend to focus on delivering,” she declared, outlining her vision to tackle the “unfinished business” and advance reforms within the WTO to better serve member nations.
Her decision to seek re-election has sparked interest within the global trade community, with many looking forward to seeing how her leadership will shape the future of international trade.
