The FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Nigeria’s Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iwuala who is the Director General of the World Trade Organisation has met at the sideline of the 77th United Nations General Assembly in the New York.
According to FIFA website, both held discussions on a range of topics majorly on Football’s role in unlocking global economic growth potential among other strategic issues relating to the economic impact of football.
The FIFA World Cup is the main driver of FIFA’s income and therefore global investment source, which it distributes via the FIFA Forward programme.
By the end of 2022, since its inception in 2016, almost USD 3 billion will have been invested globally through FIFA Forward.
Through FIFA Forward, FIFA offers tailor-made support for football development to create more investment opportunities, more oversight, more impact and ultimately, more growth.
President Infantino also used the avenue to provide an update on a number of FIFA Forward projects.
The subjects of the continued enhancement of women’s economic empowerment – and the role that football can play within that process – and FIFA’s role within the global sustainability movement, were also of keen interest to both parties and were discussed.
The WTO regulates and facilitates international trade and is the world’s largest international economic organisation. It has 164 member states, representing over 98 per cent of global trade and global GDP.
