Hon Damien O’ConnorMinister for Trade and Export Growth
Trade and Export Growth Minister Damien O’Connor congratulated Nigeria’s Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on her ground-breaking
selection as the next Director General of the World Trade Organization last night.
Dr Okonjo-Iweala will be the first female and first African Director General of the organisation. She has a strong
background in international governance, having previously served in senior positions at the World Bank and as Nigeria’s
Finance Minister.
Minister O’Connor also congratulated Korea’s Minister for Trade, Yoo Myung-hee, on her candidacy, and acknowledged her
withdrawal from the race in order to facilitate consensus.
“Trade underpins global growth, helping to create jobs and alleviate poverty. The Covid19 pandemic has seen significant
downward trends in global trade, and trade will form an important part of the international recovery effort. It’s
important that we have a strong multilateral framework at the WTO with effective leadership to guide Members’ efforts
and undertake necessary reform,” Damien O’Connor said.
“New Zealand looks forward to working with Dr Okonjo-Iweala to progress New Zealand’s negotiating priority of concluding
ambitious disciplines on fisheries subsidies as soon as possible this year, and to resolve the long-standing impasse on
the Appellate Body in order to maintain a two-tier binding dispute settlement system. There’s a lot to do before the
Twelfth Ministerial Conference this year.”