ABU DHABI, 26 february 2024 (TATOLI) – WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was awarded the Order of Timor-Leste by the President of the Republic, José Ramos Horta, in recognition of her remarkable contribution and support to the country’s accession process to World Trade Organization (WTO).
The Award Ceremony took place during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the WTO’s 13th Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi, on saturday (25/02), in the presence of the House Speaker, Fernanda Lay, Vice-Prime Minister, and Minister Coordinator for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment, Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, government officials, and Ambassador Lurdes Bessa, the Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste in Geneva and international dignitaries.
President Horta congratulated Director-General Ngozi and the WTO officials for their support in guiding Timor-Leste towards its accession to the WTO.
“The Order of Timor-Leste is awarded to Director-General Ngozi as a token of appreciation for her dedication and work in leading the Working Party in various meetings on Timor-Leste’s preparation for its accession to the WTO,” said President Horta.
Ngoji Okonjo-Iweala was delighted with the award, saying that it not only recognized her work at the WTO but also her dedication to public service.
“I would like to thank Timor-Leste and President Horta for this award, for recognizing my work in supporting Timor-Leste’s preparations for its accession to the WTO. I look forward to working with Timor-Leste after its accession to the WTO,” she said.
Timor-Leste has been granted WTO observer status since 2016, and the country keeps working to take another step towards fulfilling the membership terms to become a full member of the organization.
Timor-Leste submitted its application for accession to the WTO in november 2016 as part of a broader national trade strategy to integrate the country further into the world economy to promote economic growth and development.
Timor-Leste’s WTO accession process started on december 7, 2006, through the establishment of the Working Group.
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) is the only international organization that regulates international trade activities.
WTO was founded in 1995 and its existence is based on an agreement whose objective is to help producers of goods, exporters, and importers in each of the member countries to carry out their commercial activities in accordance with international rules, guaranteeing security and transparency.
Journalist: Joanico de Araújo
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
Translation: Filomeno Martins
