EU Supports Morocco's Candidacy For World Trade Organization Chairmanship

The candidacy of former Moroccan minister, Hassan Abouayoub, for the World Trade Organization Chairmanship is backed by the 15-member countries of the European Union.

European weekly magazine "EuroPolitique" said in its latest issue that Morocco's image and Abouayoub's political and professional backgrounds are all assets in favor of the Moroccan candidate.

Abouayoub, 46, who is a former Minister of foreign trade, agriculture, tourism and external investments, is backed by the Arab world and Africa, "Europolitique" said, noting that the Moroccan candidate is planning to launch shortly a campaign in the USA, Asia and Latin America to lobby support for his candidacy.

Three other candidates are running for WTO chairmanship: former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mike Moore, former Canadian International trade Minister, Roy MacLaren, and Thailand's Vice-Prime Minister, Supachai Panitchpakdi.

The mandate of the acting WTO chief, Renato Ruggiero, will expire next April. Ruggiero, who announced that he will not run for another mandate, is the first Director General of WTO which substituted the Gatt in 1995.