Infantino, Okonjo-Iweala review FIFA, WTO’s partnership for economic growth

IFA President, Gianni Infantino (right), and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, yesterday in New York reviewed the progress of their collaboration in leveraging football’s power and influence to boost the economies of the least developed countries, with a particular focus on the ‘Cotton Four plus’ nations (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and Cote d’Ivoire).

Both organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) last September to create opportunities within the football apparel value chain for the Cotton Four countries. Nearly a year after signing the MOU, they convened to discuss the progress, ways to enhance it and opportunities for women’s economic empowerment.

During the meeting, Okonjo-Iweala and Infantino also explored the potential integration of FIFA’s Football for Schools programme, a FIFA initiative in partnership with UNESCO aimed at contributing to the education, development and empowerment of approximately 700 million children worldwide.

Both leaders shared updates about the meeting and the progress made on their respective social media pages, highlighting opportunities for further economic development in developing countries.

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