WTO candidate visits Zim

senior Government officials.
His visit came at a time when the WTO has set in motion the election process for the next top official at the Geneva-based arbiter of global trade.

WTO members, who make up two- thirds of the membership, have been pushing for a change in leadership following the end of term for outgoing director-general Pascal Lamy.

The current elections are taking place against the background of a shared view among developing nations that there is need for change in leadership and direction of the organisation.

Other candidates that have been put forward for the post from the developing world include Alan John Kyerematen (Ghana), Amina Mohamed (Kenya), Anabel Gonzalez (Costa Rica), Ahmad Tougan Hindawi (Jordan), Herminio Blanco (Mexico), Mari Elka Pangestu (Indonesia), Taeho Bark (South Korea) and Tim Grozen (New Zealand).

Ambassador Azevedo has emerged as one of the leading candidates for the top post as he is one of the leading experts in WTO issues worldwide.

He earned a reputation as a skilful negotiator during his 15 years of direct involvement in global trade matters.

Since 2008 he has held the position of permanent representative of Brazil to the WTO in Geneva where he was a valuable member of various panels within the organisation who developed a reputation as an independent and impartial chair of the WTO’s Dispute Settlement Body.

Ambassador Azevedo also demonstrated the ability to build consensus and to move easily across different groupings of countries, regardless of their respective levels of development.

The next director-general is expected to have a firm commitment to strengthening the multilateral trading system, experience and expertise in dealing with issues on the WTO agenda.

Part of this transformation should involve a focus on consensus building and establishing an equitable multilateral trading system which is requisite in moving forward the organisation’s agenda.

Prior to his 2008 posting to Geneva, Ambassador Azevedo held several senior positions in Brazilian government service including director of the Economic Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of External Relations and Vice-Minister for Economic Affairs.