By Akinwale Kasali
Former Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s hope of securing the World Trade Organization, WTO, top job brightened when she made the final five, thus qualifying her for the next phase of interview process.
Three candidates for the race to be the next Director-General of the body were dropped. From the five remaining contestants two would emerge for the final phase in the coming weeks, according to Bloomberg.
The Geneva-based WTO said Mexico’s Jesus Seade, Egypt’s Hamid Mamdouh, and Moldova’s Tudor Ulianovschi didn’t secure enough support in a first of three rounds of voting.
“Their expertise and high professional and personal qualities are highly valued and respected by all members,” WTO General Council Chairman, David Walker, said in a statement on Friday.
The second phase of consultations would begin on September 24, and run until October 6 after which the WTO would announce two final candidates.
The new Director General would emerge on November 7.
