The World Trade Organization (WTO) has announced that it will hold a special General Council meeting to advance the process for selecting the next Director-General.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council, confirmed that the meeting would take place on November 28-29, 2024.
This follows an announcement on November 9 by Ambassador Ølberg, stating that, as of the November 8 nomination deadline, no candidates had been put forward for the Director-General role other than the current incumbent, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
In his message to WTO members, Ambassador Ølberg noted that, based on discussions with delegations in recent days, and following past practice when the incumbent was the only candidate, he plans to convene a formal General Council meeting on November 28 and 29.
On the first day, members will have the opportunity to hear a presentation from DG Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her vision for the WTO, followed by a question-and-answer session.
The second day will provide a chance for members to make a decision regarding the appointment of the next Director-General.
The process to appoint the next Director-General began on October 8, with the nomination period running until November 8. DG Okonjo-Iweala’s current term is set to end on August 31, 2025.