The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has officially begun the process of appointing its next Director-General, a move confirmed in a statement released yesterday. The selection will be overseen by Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council, following the WTO’s established procedures for such appointments.

Ambassador Ølberg had indicated on October 4 that WTO members favored an expedited start to the selection process, which was originally scheduled for a later date. According to the WTO’s guidelines, members have until November 8 to submit their nominations. After this deadline, candidates will be given a three-month period to engage with members and present their qualifications, concluding on February 8, 2025.

Following this phase, a two-month consultation period will run until April 8, 2025, allowing the General Council to finalize its choice for the position.

Current Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who began her term on March 1, 2021, has confirmed her intention to seek reappointment. Her current term is set to expire on August 31, 2025. As the first woman and first African to lead the WTO, Okonjo-Iweala has garnered considerable support from member countries, with representatives from 52 nations recently endorsing a proposal from the African Group for her to serve a second term. Many praised her leadership and accomplishments during her first term.

The WTO is the only global organization dedicated to establishing rules for international trade between nations. Its core objective is to ensure that trade flows as smoothly and predictably as possible, facilitated through agreements negotiated and signed by a majority of the world’s trading nations.

As the appointment process unfolds, the emphasis on transparency and inclusiveness underscores the organization’s commitment to aligning with the best interests of its member states. The international community will closely watch the developments as the WTO prepares for this significant leadership transition.