SUPACHAI ASSIGNS RESPONSIBILITIES TO NEW DEPUTY DIRECTORS-GENERAL
On 1 October, the four new Deputy Directors-General (DDGs) appointed on 16 August by WTO Director-General Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi took up their new roles at the organisation (see BRIDGES Weekly, 13 September 2002). Mr. Roderick Abbott (UK) will take up the portfolio of ‘institutional questions’ that includes Market Access, Trade and Environment, and Trade Policy Review. He will also take up the duty assumed by previous DDG Mr. Rodriguez Mendoza of addressing the best way to organise the WTO’s overbearing meeting schedule so as to meet internal transparency needs. Dr. Kipkorir Aly Azad Rana (Kenya) will be responsible for the areas of Development and Economic Research, Technical Cooperation, Technical Cooperation Audit, Textiles, and Trade Information Centre and Library. Mr. Francisco Thompson-Flôres (Brazil) adopts Agriculture and Commodities, Council and TNC, Intellectual Property, External Relations, and Trade and Finance. Mr. Rufus H. Yerxa (US) will take responsibility for divisions relating to legal issues, including the divisions of Trade in Services, Accessions, Information and Media Relations, Rules and Legal Affairs.
ICTSD reporting; "WTO DG Designate Dr Supachai Panitchpakdi selects deputies," WTO PRESS RELEASE, 16 August