DG Okonjo-Iweala to members: Use the WTO as a platform to engage
Geneva, 18 February 2025
Speaking at a meeting of the General Council today, Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala urged members to use the WTO as a platform to engage on all trade issues, including those that are not currently on the organization’s agenda.
“The WTO is a unique forum where all members can come together to discuss and negotiate on trade issues,” she said. “We should use this platform to its full potential, to address both the challenges and opportunities that we face in the global trading system.”
DG Okonjo-Iweala said that the WTO can play a key role in helping members to address the challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change, digitalization, and inequality.
“These challenges are complex and interconnected, and they require global cooperation and coordination,” she said. “The WTO is well-placed to provide a platform for members to work together to develop solutions to these challenges.”
DG Okonjo-Iweala also said that the WTO can help members to seize the opportunities that are presented by the global trading system.
“Trade can be a powerful engine for economic growth and development,” she said. “The WTO can help members to maximize the benefits of trade by providing a framework for open, fair, and predictable trade.”
DG Okonjo-Iweala concluded her remarks by calling on members to work together to strengthen the WTO.
“The WTO is a vital organization for the global trading system,” she said. “We must work together to ensure that the WTO remains strong and effective, so that it can continue to play a key role in promoting global trade and development.”
Additional Information
- The General Council is the WTO’s highest-level decision-making body. It meets regularly to discuss and decide on a wide range of trade issues.
- DG Okonjo-Iweala has been the Director-General of the WTO since March 2021. She is the first woman and the first African to hold this position.
- The WTO is a member-driven organization. It has 164 members, accounting for over 98% of global trade.
DG Okonjo-Iweala to members: Use the WTO as a platform to engage
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