WHO Director-General's opening Remarks at the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on the WHO Pandemic Agreement - 9 July 2025

Excellences, dear colleagues and friends,

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to this first meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement.

I have to admit that at times, I sometimes wondered if we would get here, but now that we have arrived, I cannot tell you how happy I am to see all of you.

I congratulate Member States for everything you have achieved over the past three-and-a-half years.

You have my greatest respect and gratitude. This is a truly historic achievement.

And to make it happen, and to bring this generational project to fruition, and I am very pleased that we will soon be welcoming our new officers of the intergovernmental working group.

This includes Ambassador Tovar of Brazil and Mr Matthew Harpur of the United Kingdom as co-chairs;

And as vice-chairs, Ambassador Vuyile Dlamini of Eswatini, Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari of Qatar, Dr Viroj of Thailand and Ms Fleur Davies of Australia.

I am also pleased to announce that Dr Nedret Emiroglu will be taking over as head of secretariat for the IGWG.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Jaouad Mahjour for his outstanding leadership over the past few years as head of secretariat for the INB.

As you know, the main job before you is to complete the annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing for adoption at next year's World Health Assembly, so that the Pandemic Agreement is ready for signature and ratification.

I urge you to make full use of today's organizational meeting to chart your route to completion.

That means agreeing to a comprehensive programme of work and ways of working for the coming year.

It also means setting realistic timelines and milestones, defining the terms and timing of your discussions, consulting with stakeholders, and keeping this working group accountable to its mandate.

We have a good foundation on which to build, given your experience negotiating the agreement and all the work you have already done in your discussions on Article 12.

You have my full support and that of the Secretariat to bring the Pandemic Agreement and the PABS Annex to completion and fulfil the promise of this historic agreement.

Let us keep our eye on the prize: to deliver a successful outcome to the Health Assembly next year;

And towards a successful entry into force of the Pandemic Agreement.

Now, please join me in offering our sincere appreciation for the hard work, commitment, leadership and guidance of the former members of the INB Bureau.

[presents plaques]:

Our esteemed former co-chairs, Professor Precious Matsoso and Ambassador Anne-Claire Amprou.

And co-chairs, Ambassador Tovar da Silva Nunes, Ambassador Amr Ramadan; Dr Viroj Tangcharoensathien and Ms Fleur Davies.

I am now pleased to hand the floor back to Dr Razia Pendse, our Chef de Cabinet.