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| Former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala |
Former Minister of Finance Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has made the second-to-the last shortlist of candidates for the Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The body however dropped three candidates from the contest.
It also plans to reduce the contestants to two final candidates in the next few weeks.
WTO said Mexicoโs Jesus Seade, Egyptโs Hamid Mamdouh and Moldovaโs Tudor Ulianovschi didnโt secure enough support in a first of three rounds of voting.
โTheir expertise and high professional and personal qualities are highly valued and respected by all members,โ 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 goal was to name a new leader by November 7.
Those left in the race are: Mohammad Maziad Al-Tuwaijri, Saudi Arabiaโs former minister of economy and planning; Liam Fox, the UKโs former secretary of state for international trade; Yoo Myung-hee, South Koreaโs trade minister; Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; and Amina Chawahir Mohamed Jibril, Kenyaโs former international trade minister.
