Gonzalez accompanied the president of Costa Rica, Laura Chinchilla, in a press conference in San Jose, after the official presentation in Geneva of her candidacy to succeed the Frenchman Pascal Lamy at the head of the WTO.
Before the Costa Rican Minister she ran the Ghanaian Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen. The process was initiated on December 1 and end on the last day of the year.
Gonzalez said that if elected expects “to have the opportunity to work with all nations to promote the strengthening and consolidation, as well as the development of a trade agenda that will help generate growth and development in all countries.”
Costa Rican President, meanwhile, stressed “the knowledge, experience and achievements” of the minister in “the area of foreign trade, as credentials that make it the ideal candidate to lead this organization.”
In addition, she was responsible for negotiating, on behalf of Costa Rica, the free trade agreement (FTA) between Central America and the United States.
Gonzalez is the foreign trade minister since May 2010. This period has been one of the main advisers Chinchilla and primary responsibility for the formulation and implementation of trade and investment policies in the country.
She also chairs the Global Agenda Council on Trade and Investment, World Economic Forum.
President Chinchilla said that her country “will make every effort to support the candidacy of this great Costa Rican, who can serve the community with dedication.”
If elected to the position, Gonzalez will take office on September 1, 2013, for a term of four years and will lead the WTO negotiations.
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose Costa Rica
World Trade Organization, WTO,
