Nine names suggested for top WTO seat

GENEVA - Agence France-Presse

Nine countries have presented candidates to succeed Pascal Lamy as head of the World Trade Organisation ahead of the deadline on Dec. 31.

The last candidate was Roberto Azevedo, Brazil’s envoy to the WTO, whose name was put forth on Dec. 28. Mexico has nominated Herminio Blanco Mendoza, a former minister who led that country’s talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Costa Rica proposes its foreign trade minister Anabel Gonzalez.
South Korea and New Zealand have nominated their trade ministers, Taeho Bark and Tim Groser. From Jordan, the name of ex-minister Ahmad Nindawi has been put forward. Indonesia is going with Tourism Minister Mari Pangestu. The race kicked off on December 17 when Ghana nominated its former trade minister Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, while Kenya has since suggested its WTO ambassador Amina Mohamed.