Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala of Nigeria said she believes the world needs more than ever a "reinvigorated" WTO, pledging that if selected, she would prioritize delivering a successful ministerial meeting with good outcomes on fisheries, agriculture and other sectors.

"I would also prioritize updating the rulebook, unlocking the dispute settlement system, working on transparency and notification, enhancing the work of regular bodies, and strengthen the Secretariat," said the candidate, an economist who twice served as Nigeria's finance minister and briefly acted as foreign minister, and had a 25-year career at the World Bank, including as a managing director.