"EU Agrees to Support Nigerian Candidate for WTO Director-General"

AFP Report... Higher Chances of Winning if Supported by the EU

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min, International Department Reporter] European Union (EU) member states have agreed to support Nigerian candidate Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for the position of World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General, AFP reported on the 25th (local time).

EU member state ambassadors met on the day to reach a consensus on their preferred candidate between Korea's Yoo Myung-hee, Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who advanced to the final round, and candidate Okonjo-Iweala.

The WTO has been conducting a final preference survey among its 164 member countries on Director-General Yoo and candidate Okonjo-Iweala since the 19th. The survey is scheduled to continue until the 27th.

Since candidate Okonjo-Iweala announced that she has secured support from 79 countries in Africa and Latin America, if she receives unanimous support from the EU side, which holds 27 votes, her chances of being elected WTO Director-General will become highly likely.

Including President Moon Jae-in, the Korean government has also requested EU leaders to support Minister Yoo Myung-hee's campaign efforts.