Sep 22, 1998

FOUR CANDIDATES IN THE RING FOR WTO TOP JOB

Geneva, 20 Sep (TWN) -- The General Council of the World Trade Organization will have an informal meeting on 12 October to consult on the choice of a candidate to succeed Mr. Renato Ruggiero as the Director-general of the organization.

Four candidates have been nominated so far. 

The last date to receive nomination has been fixed for 30 September. 

The candidates nominated so far are: 

• Mr. Mike Moore MP, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and his country's trade minister at the launch of the Uruguay Round;
• Mr. Roy MaClaren, former Canadian Trade Minister (who negotiated also the final stages of NAFTA accord and the Uruguay Round), and currently his country's High Commissioner (ambassador) to the UK;
• Dr. Supachai Panichpakdi, who is now Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister of Thailand, and was Deputy Prime Minister (1992-1995) in a previous Thai government: and
• Mr. Hassan Abouyoub, a former Trade Minister of Morocco, and currently Ambassador in charge of trade negotiations.