Roberto Azevedo, Brazil's ambassador to the World Trade Organization since 2008, has won the race to become the next director-general of the global trade body.

He is the first representative from the BRICS nations -Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - to hold the post since the WTO was formed in 1995.

Azevedo on Tuesday beat Herminio Blanco, Mexico's former trade minister, who was widely reported to be backed by the United States and European Union, in the final round of the contest to succeed France's Pascal Lamy, who is expected to step down on Aug 31.