Former Prime Minister and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Mike Moore, has been appointed to serve on the Global Commission on International Migration. The Commission was established by the UN on the initiative of Secretary-General Kofi Annan to address the increasingly complex issues surrounding the global movement of peoples.

The Commission is co-chaired by former Swedish Foreign Minister, Jan O Karlsson and Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, a Managing Director of the World Bank Group specialising in health and population issues. Other commissioners include Mary Robinson, former President of the Republic of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Manuel Marin, former Vice President of the European Commission. Mr Moore is the only Commissioner representing the Oceania region.

The objectives of the Commission are to:

• Place International Migration on the Global Agenda
• Analyse Gaps in Current Approaches to Migration and Examining Inter-linkages with Other Issue-Areas
• Present Recommendations to the UN Secretary-General and other stakeholders on how to strengthen national, regional and global governance of international migrations

The Commission’s first meeting will be held in Stockholm on February 26 and 27th.

“Migration has always been a key driver of economic and social progress, and this is as true today as it was centuries ago,” Mr Moore said.

“Despite all the talk, there is smaller movement of people on a permanent basis than 100 years ago. Great injustices and evils exist – people smuggling, the slave trade, a black market to export a cheap and compliant workforce.

“There are also many escaping brutal regimes, or simply seeking a better life.

“It is political dynamite, and is very hard for political leaders to navigate. But the pressures are impacting on the global political landscape, and cannot be ignored.

“As such, I applaud the UN for this initiative, and am delighted to accept their invitation to serve as a Commissioner,” Mr Moore said.

Since completing his tenure as Director General of the WTO in 2002, Mr Moore has been appointed to a number of corporate and advisory boards in Europe. He is visiting professor at a number of Universities in several countries.

As well as acting a roving ambassador for New Zealand on trade, he also provides strategic advice to Fonterra on trade matters. Mr Moore is a regular contributor to the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong’s leading daily, and the Australian Financial Review.

Mr Moore has established Mike Moore and Associates International Ltd, based in Geneva and Auckland, and is doing business in a number of countries.