Biden, Harris endorse Okoni-Iweala for WTO DG
The Biden administration has declared “strong support” for former Nigerian Finance Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to serve as the World Trade Organization’s next director-general.
This was announced in a statement on Friday in Washington DC.
In the statement, the United States acknowledged the withdrawal of South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee from fighting for the position, thus making Okonjo-Iweala as the sole candidate for the Director-general position.
The Biden administration also congratulated Myung-hee for her strong campaign for the position.
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The U.S. president described her as a trail blazer as the Republic of Korea first female trade minister and first candidate from Korea to advance in the director- general selection process.
Okonjo-Iweala, who became a U.S. citizen in 2019, would be the first woman and the first African to lead the WTO. A trained economist, she spent the bulk of her career at the World Bank, eventually holding its No. 2 post as managing director of operations. She twice served as Nigeria’s finance minister.
“Dr. Okonjo-Iweala brings a wealth of knowledge in economics and international diplomacy from her 25 years with the World
