WTO: BRAZILIAN ROBERTO AZEVÊDO TAKES OVER

Geneva, September 2- Ambassador Roberto Azevêdo of Brazil took the helm of the WTO on 1 September 2013 as the sixth Director-General. Director-General Azevêdo was appointed to a four-year term by the General Council on 14 May 2013.

The General Council will hold a special meeting on 9 September 2013 to welcome the new Director-General and listen to his inaugural speech.

In announcing this special meeting, the General Council Chair, Ambassador Shahid Bashir, said that at the end of the meeting, he intends “to announce, in co-operation with the new Director-General, the intensification of our work in preparation for Bali, starting with a focus on the shape of MC9, including its outcome document”.

Azevêdo’s first international appearance will be at the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Saint Petersburg on 5-7 September 2013.

In his welcome message Azevêdo indicated that “the WTO and the multilateral trading system are at an important crossroads. The choices that the WTO’s 159 members make in the coming months will determine the path we take as we set out together to strengthen and support the multilateral trading system.

“The 9th Ministerial Conference, which will be held in Bali from 3 to 6 December 2013, is a key priority. A successful meeting there will provide a much needed shot in the arm for the global economy and the WTO.

“I believe that a deal can be struck despite the short time we have between now and Bali. I shall do everything I can to see that agreement is reached. But there is no such thing as a sure thing, and a great deal of work and commitment are required in the coming weeks if we are to succeed”.

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