The World Trade Organization will for the first time in 25 years be led by a woman according to WHO in a statement on Thursday as candidates vying to become the next director-general of the WTO later this year is down to two power women: foremost Nigerian economist and former finance minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Yoo Myung-hee, current Minister for Trade of South Korea – the first woman to hold the position.
Who ever emerges overall winner will replace Roberto Azevedo, who stepped down in August.
“Happy to be in the final round of the @WTO [director general] campaign,” she tweeted on Thursday. “Thanks, WTO members for your continued support of my candidacy.” Okonjo-Iweala wrote on Twitter
“Deeply grateful and honored to be selected for the final round in the selection process of the next @WTO Director General!” Yoo said on Twitter after the final candidates were announced.
WHO’s primary role is to direct international health within the United Nations’ system and to lead partners in global health responses.
