Sean Doherty
December 18, 2025
Globalization got a bad name because it left people out: WTO’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala
This video is part of: Centre for Regions, Trade and Geopolitics
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, was speaking in Davos. Overall, trade is facing headwinds, from sluggish global growth to increased protectionism and tensions between countries. But Okonjo-Iweala says that technology and the energy transition offer bright spots.
"The reason globalization got a bad name is some poor people in rich countries were left out, and poor countries or developing countries were at the margin. We don't want to repeat in the new paradigm the same story where in diversifying supply chains and in rejigging the way we do business and building resilience, we leave out a set of countries." said Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), as he was speaking in Davos.
Overall, trade is facing headwinds, from sluggish global growth to increased protectionism and tensions between countries. But Okonjo-Iweala says that technology and the energy transition offer bright spots.
Watch the video to hear more from the WTO Chief.
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