The World Trade Organization has for the first time in its 25 years nominated two females, Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo Iweala and South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee, OYOgist.com reports.
The two finalists were nominated by members of the WTO “to advance to the final round in the race to lead the Geneva-based trade body, according to people familiar with the matter” according to Bloomberg.
“They’re both very well qualified — it’s going to be a fight,” said William Reinsch, a trade official in the Clinton administration and senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The top challenge will be “restoring the organization to full strength and viability, and restoring its reputation. “You need members to have confidence that the WTO is capable of solving problems. I think right now that confidence is eroded.”
The winner is set to be announced by the WTO General Council Chairman, David Walker, on Thursday morning in Geneva.
