99-3092 MOREPRESS RELEASE
PRESS/131
22 July 1999
WTO MEMBER GOVERNMENTS AGREE
ON DIRECTOR-GENERAL SUCCESSION
Member Governments of the World Trade Orga nization, agreed Thursday that the Right
Honourable Mike Moore of New Zealand be appointed as Director-General for a term of three years,
beginning on 1 September.  The General Council, the WTO's executive body, further agreed that
Mr. Moore would be succeeded by H.E. Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi of Thailand, who will serve a
three-year term beginning 1 September 2002.
The decision on the successor to departing Director-General Renato Ruggiero was agreed by
134 member governments and comes after a year-long effort to appoint Mr. Ruggiero's successor.
Neither Mr. Moore nor Dr. Supachai will be eligible for reappointment as Director-General and
neither will have his period of office extended, the Council agreed.
Member governments stressed that the unprecedented term sharing arrangement did not
constitute a precedent for future appointments of the Director-General and agreed to work towards
establishing "a comprehensive set of rules and procedures for such appointments" by the end of
September 2000.
General Council  Chairman Ali Mchumo of Tanzania said he was sure all Member
Governments were now fully committed to supporting Mr. Moore and Dr. Supachai. He urged
governments to work together to achieve a successful outcome both at the Ministerial Conference, to
be held in Seattle from 30 November to 3 December, and during the trade negotiations that will start
shortly after the conference.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us as we prepare for Seattle and the subsequent negotiations.
It is essential that all of us work together to insu re that we have a multilateral trading system which
gives benefits to all of our citizens," Mr. Mchumo said.
The General Council  agreed that the Director-General will appoint his Deputy Directors-
General in consultation with member governments. The General Council will meet in September to
consult on the number of deputies to be appointed.PRESS/131
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ENDRight Honourable Mike Moore
New Zealand
Mike Moore was born in Whakatane, New Zealand, in 1949.  After early experience as a
printer, social worker, trade union researcher, in 1972 he became the youngest member of Parliament
ever elected in New Zealand.  Mr. Moore has served as New Zealand Minister of Overseas Trade and
Marketing (1984-1990), Minister of Foreign Affair s (1990), Deputy Minister  of Finance (1988-1990)
and Prime Minister (1990).  As Trade Minister, he was active in launching the Uruguay Round of
GATT negotiations.  He is currently Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Overseas
Trade.
Mr. Moore is the longest serving member of the New Zealand Parliamentary Select
Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade.  He represented New Zealand at the first APEC Ministerial
Meeting in Canberra in 1989 and served as a board member of Asia 2000, a New Zealand bodydedicated to fostering closer ties with Asian countries.
Mr. Moore holds a number of positions in various community groups.  He was appointed
Constitutional Adviser to the Government of the Cook Islands in 1998.  He is the author of eight
books including " A Pacific Parliament " and " The Added Value Economy ".
H.E. Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi
Thailand
Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi was born in 1946 in Bangkok.  He holds a Masters Degree in
Econometrics and Development Planning and a Ph. D. in Economic Planning and Development from
Erasmus University, Rotterdam.  He was aw arded an Honorary Degree (Ph.D.) in Economic
Development from the National Institute of Development Administration in 1995.
Dr. Supachai has held a range of positions in former governments, including the position of
Deputy Finance Minister of Thai land (1986-1988) and Deputy Prime Minister (1992-1995).  In this
capacity, he was directly in charge of Thailand's participation in the Uruguay Round of multilateral
trade negotiations including its subsequent ratification and implementation.
Since 1997, Dr. Supachai has served as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of
Thailand and has been actively involved in internat ional trade, playing an instrumental role in the
drafting of Thailand's major economic policies, including the national economic and social
development plans.  Dr. Supachai has also acquired professional experience in the private sector,
holding the position of President of the Thai Military Bank (1988-1992) and Chairman of Nava
Finance and Securities.