The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced plans to convene a special meeting of its General Council to advance the process for selecting the next Director-General.
The meeting is scheduled for November 28-29, 2024.
A statement released on Tuesday by Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council, confirmed that the session would proceed after it was revealed that no new candidates had emerged for the role by the November 8, 2024, nomination deadline.
The only candidate currently standing is the incumbent Director-General, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Ambassador Ølberg outlined that, following discussions with WTO delegations in recent days, and based on precedents when the incumbent is the sole nominee, a special formal meeting of the General Council will take place.
During the first day of the meeting, DG Okonjo-Iweala will present her vision for the future of the WTO, followed by a question-and-answer session with member states.
The second day of the meeting will provide an opportunity for WTO members to formally decide on the appointment of the next Director-General.
The process for selecting a new DG officially began on October 8, 2024, with a nomination deadline set for November 8.
Okonjo-Iweala’s current term is set to expire on August 31, 2025.
