Four candidates Nominated to Serve as Next WTO Director-General
The following four candidates have been nominated by their respective governments to serve as the next Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to succeed the incumbent, Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand, whose term of office expires on August 31, 2005:
Carlos Pérez del Castillo of Uruguay
Jaya Krishna Cuttaree of Mauritius
Luiz Felipe de Seixas Corrêa of Brazil
Pascal Lamy of France
Under the WTO procedures for appointment, the nomination period closed on December 31, 2004. A formal General Council meeting will be held on January 26, 2005 where candidates will present themselves to the WTO membership. The selection process will conclude with a decision by the General Council no later than May 31, 2005.
Pascal Lamy, the former E.U. trade commissioner, is considered to be the frontrunner for the post.