The Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has allayed fears that embracing the free trade policy of the world body would harm Nigeria’s economic diversification drive.

Fielding questions after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the presidential villa, Abuja on Monday, she affirmed that special and differential treatment could be applied to prevent vulnerable countries from collapsing under completion.

However, she added that the special treatment would not be forever as such countries would have to eventually open up for competition.

The former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy also said duties could be applied on imports to prevent the country from being a dumping ground.

Okonjo-Iweala conceded that despite lifting millions out of poverty, free trade has not been beneficial to all especially women, saying that in recognition of this, the WTO has a deliberate policy to support women.

She said she had discussions in many areas with President Buhari on how the WTO could do not improve the Nigerian economy.

According to her, there is a unique opportunity for the country to improve its standing in trade and add value to its products especially agriculture.

While noting that Nigeria’s shea butter was denied access to the United States and European markets because of poor quality, she said the country could “trade more, export more and add value to its products.”

The DG noted that Nigeria must out-market others, stressing that there is a high demand for the country’s fashion in other African countries but it has not been able to leverage on it.

On COVID-19, the former minister advised the country to set up local vaccine manufacturing as she noted that coronavirus would not be the last pandemic.

[url=https://tribuneonlineng.com/wto-wont-harm-nigerias-economic-diversification-%e2%80%95-okonjo-iweala/amp/]SOURCE [/url]

Madam doesn't seem to recognise him/Buhari? ?

His feet have shrunk?

www.nairaland.com/attachments/13265546_img20210315162304_jpeg9271546935a4103a80c946051dd5a13a

[img]https://media1./images/c917e2b10a3b2120e088e80191c58c3d/tenor.gif?itemid=17509850[/img]

As if Buhari understands what she is saying

The content of her speech makes great sense but it won't make any impact cos the leaders we have don't have any plan B on the economy, aside their total dependency on Crude oil. They may even interprete diversifying the economy to mean borrowing from China.

Okonjo-Iweala conceded that despite lifting millions out of poverty, free trade has not been beneficial to all especially women, saying that in recognition of this, the WTO has a deliberate policy to support women.

I like the women bit most of all of course, but the bold is like having a champion of the exploited in charge of the army that was attacking them.

It sure would be a lot less easy for the powerful to exploit the weak with Okonjo Iweala giving the orders!

Why did this woman have contact with the lifeless cow

budaatum:


I like the women bit most of all of course, but the bold is like having a champion of the exploited in charge of the army that was attacking them.

It sure would be a lot less easy for the powerful to exploit the weak with Okonjo Iweala giving the orders!

Shut up. what do you know

k

Any one has an idea on what she meant by "Corona virus will not be the last pandemic"?

Mabizeka:
Shut up. what do you know

Why don't you try and shut me up so you can find out what I might know?

SmartProf:
The content of her speech makes great sense but it won't make any impact cos the leaders we have don't have any plan B on the economy, aside their total dependency on Crude oil. They may even interprete diversifying the economy to mean borrowing from China.

The WTO is like school and Okonjo is the new Headmistress. She will set the curriculum and hire the right teachers who will teach our leaders, and more importantly us who elect our leaders, so they and we all may learn.

Great news and two very great citizens!

Okonjo-Iweala meets Buhari, says Nigeria’s share in global trade 0.33%
The former finance minister of Nigeria arrived the country Saturday on a five-day working visit, two weeks after she assumed leadership of the global body.
ByAgency Report March 15, 2021 3 min read
The World Trade Organisation will work to deliver technical assistance, training and quality upgrade to unlock some bottlenecks confronting Nigeria, the director-general, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has said.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala stated this on Monday in Abuja when she visisted Adeniyi Adebayo, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment and Minister of State, Mariam Katagum.

She later met with President Muhammadu Buhari. The former finance minister of Nigeria arrived the country Saturday on a five-day working visit, two weeks after she assumed leadership of the global body.

She described WTO as an economic institution that could work with other financial institutions to support investments and technical assistance to mitigate Nigeria’s economic challenges.

She said the WTO was created with World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF), adding that these three institutions, by working together, could deliver a lot.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala also noted that Nigeria’s share in world trade was 0.33 per cent which showed a small fraction of what Nigeria could do.

“Our share in Africa’s trade is 19 per cent, which is below our share of Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This means we can turn it around,” she said.

“I like to look at the optimistic side, when I saw this I knew that there was potential for us to do much. And that is the message I want to convey to the country.

“This means that we must step up our action on the economy, we must do better and harder in several ways because of our youth who are waiting for jobs.

“Nigeria needs to focus on adding value on transitioning. We are an oil and gas-based economy, and that has sustained us and still will. But the world is moving away from fossil fuel,” she said.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala said trade negotiations on agricultural issues were very important for Nigeria adding that the country was active in agriculture and also in the Joint Statement Initiatives, ongoing prolateral negotiations.

According to her, Nigeria is equally involved in E-commerce, services domestic regulations, investment facilitation, micro small and medium enterprises and women in trade.

Mrs Okonjo-Iweala, while stating that Nigeria was 103 out of 167 countries in logistics, advised that it was a potential area Nigeria could invest in to improve its logistics.

She said the country can take advantage of trade within the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The WTO D-G also noted that WTO was being faced with many challenges and also needs its own reforms to deliver results.

She added that the organisation has not delivered a multilateral round of negotiations in quite a number of years and has the unique opportunity of delivering the fishery subsidy negotiations.

Mr Okonjo-Iweala explained that supporting and finishing the fishery subsidy negotiations was important for the sustainability of our oceans.

Speaking on COVID-19, Okonjo-Iweala said the WTO must contribute more to the solutions of vaccines therapeutics and diagnostics, especially to the poor countries.

On its dispute settlement system that was paralysed, she said it had to discuss with all members including the U.S. on how to make it work again.

She said this was because the rules-based organisation could not continue to make rules if the dispute settlement system did not work.

“Our vision for the WTO is to face these challenges. I hope that Nigeria will take a very active supportive role in helping me to deliver on some of the messages,” she added.

Earlier, Mr Adebayo intimated Mrs Okonjo-Iweala on some of the ministry’s expectations regarding its engagement in ongoing negotiations as it prepared for the WTO Ministerial Conference, scheduled to hold in Geneva in December 2021.

On the ongoing agriculture negotiations, Mr Adebayo said Nigeria was expecting balanced and equitable outcomes that would address the structural causes of insecurity in Net Food Importing Developing Countries (NFIDCs) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).

On the fisheries subsidies negotiations, the minister noted that the ministry looked forward to outcomes that would result in reduction of overfishing and unsustainable development of the fishing sector of developing countries.

“I also wish to draw your attention to our capacity difficulties which continue to undermine our effective participation in the multilateral trading system.

“While we acknowledge with thanks the capacity-building efforts of WTO around training officers on international trade governance, the need for more targeted technical assistance from the WTO cannot be overemphasised,” he said.

Mr Adebayo appreciated President Buhari for according priority for Nigeria’s participation in the D-G WTO selection process and authorising the deployment of political, diplomatic and other resources.

He said this was to ensure Mrs Okonjo-Iweala’s emergence from the three rounds of consultation as the candidate with the largest support of members to lead the WTO and your subsequent confirmation as D-G by WTO.

Similarly, Mrs Katagum urged the D-G WTO not to forget the commitment to sustain and enhance the ongoing dialogue and action on ‘women in trade’, as a firm believer in the power of trade to lift developing countries, including Nigeria out of poverty.

(NAN)

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/business/449027-okonjo-iweala-meets-buhari-says-nigerias-share-in-global-trade-0-33.html

Nice

hmmm issoright

wetin buhari wear for legs

Buhari was shocked

BigDawsNet:
If not for covid

A nice warm hug should be fine

Okay

She- diot, coman harm Nigeria na...

Even though Trump was against you, we supported you... So I don't get abt the harming of Nigeria....

Incase u don't know, the Nigeria dt made you can destroy you...
Rubbish and nonsense... Wto wunt harm Nigeria? For what

The original Slay Queen.

The woman who slayed Mr Trump with his arrogant followers.

Did you see Buhari's posture in the second picture Like Wakili

Lies!

US and EU interest comes first, as they call the shots.

Buhari does not understand what you mean by that.

If not for covid

A nice warm hug should be fine

click join the latest news forum and stand a chance to win #100,000 form 3/6/2021 to 4/5/2021
https://www.naijatab.com/?referrer=771

Better

Madam abeg nor gree o...

Don't pardon the debt otherwise they will use it to promote crime, for terrorism and marry plenty wives

SultanOfPuna:
what does that blue white and green flag represent??

Looks like Miyetti cattle rearers flag.

Good

Get your affordable heavy duty laptop powerbanks and solar systems at a fair price.

He who pays the piper dictates the tone.
She no longer represents Nigeria's interest
She will sing the IMF and World Bank's songs better