Let WTO be an institution people can trust to deliver in difficult times: DG Okonjo-Iweala

GENEVA, 6th October 2022 (WAM) – Making the WTO more responsive to the needs of people starts from listening to their views and concerns and contributing with concrete solutions to a sustainable and inclusive recovery, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said on 6 October. Speaking at the General Council, the Director-General called on members to continue efforts to build convergence and engage more in frank conversations that allow the WTO to move forward its agenda.

“The goal of ensuring that trade contributes as much as possible to improving people’s lives and livelihoods is what lies behind my constant call for the WTO to deliver results,” DG Okonjo-Iweala declared. “As we begin to lay the foundations for a more responsive WTO and successful 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13), we should remember that we do not need to wait for a Ministerial Conference to deliver results.”

The Director-General said that until MC13 takes place a great deal of work needs to be done. “This means facilitating negotiations and helping you build convergence on a focused, solutions-oriented agenda” that makes the WTO “an institution that people can rely on to deliver during difficult times such as these,” she said.

“Making the WTO more responsive to the needs of people starts from all of us listening to their views and concerns. That is why engaging the public in our work is so important,” the DG said.