Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the new Director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on Saturday arrived in Nigeria for the first time since her assumption of office at the Geneva-based body.
Okonjo-Iweala had resumed official duty as the first African and female DG at the WTO on March 1.
She is currently in the country for a week-long working visit. The WTO DG will be holding critical meetings with leaders on how best the Nigerian economy can position itself to profit hugely from global trade.
The WTO DG who was received by Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the permanent secretary of the ministry of industry, trade, and investment, while speaking with journalists in Abuja said; “The whole objective is to see how the WTO can better assist Nigeria and Nigerian entrepreneurs with respect to improving the economy.
“We hope to be able to use the African Continental Free Trade agreement to improve our trade and to do that we have to improve investments, we have to add value to some of our products.
“This continental free trade agreement is a unique opportunity for us to be able to engage commercially with other African countries and boost our exports.”
During her working visit she is expected to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari and his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Otunba Niyi Adebayo, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyeama.
Others include Minister of Finance, Mrs Zainab Ahmed, the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr Godwin Emiefele, mrmbers of the organised private sector as well as the micro, small and medium enterprises, and women entrepreneurs.
