There are eight contenders in the running to become the next director general of the World Trade Organization (WTO) when current incumbent, Brazil’s Roberto Azevedo, steps down at the end of August – and three of them are from Africa.
The African contenders include Kenya’s former Foreign Minister and current Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed, ex-Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and Egyptian commercial law academic Abdel-Hamid Mamdouh.
Former UK Trade Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, Jesús Seade Kuri from Mexico, Moldova’s Tudor Ulianovschi, Saudi Arabia’s former Economy Minister Mohammad Mazia al-Tualjri, and Yoo Myung-hee, South Korea’s Trade Minister, are also in the running.
The eight contenders made presentations this week to showcase why they believe they are best suited for the leadership role. In the weeks to come they will go through a series of interviews and eliminations.
Among the new head’s priorities will be sorting out trade tensions between the United States and China as well as reviving trade talks throughout the world.
Azevedo has served in the role since 2013.
