Arancha González Laya


María Aránzazu "Arancha" González Laya is a Spanish lawyer and former assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization. She was appointed to this position in August 2013 and until January 2020.
On 10 January 2020, González became the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation in the Spanish government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Early life and education

Born in San Sebastián in 22 May 1969, González grew up in the Basque municipality of Tolosa. She graduated in Law from the University of Navarre and has a postgraduate degree in European law from Charles III University of Madrid.

Career

González began her career in the private sector as an associate at German law firm Bruckhaus Westrick Stegemann advising companies on trade, competition and state aid matters.
Between 2002 and 2005 González was the European Commission’s spokeswoman for trade and adviser to the European Commissioner for Trade Pascal Lamy. She subsequently served in various capacities in the Commission in the area of international trade and external relations, including negotiations of trade agreements between the EU and Mercosur, Iran, the Gulf Cooperation Council, the Balkans and Mediterranean countries. She has also assisted developing countries in benefiting from trading opportunities in Europe.
González served as Chief of Staff to Pascal Lamy in his role as WTO Director General between 2005 and 2013. In that capacity she was intimately involved in setting up the WTO's Aid for Trade initiative as well as the Enhanced Integrated Framework, a joint venture of several international organisations helping to build trade capacity in the world's poorest countries. She served as the WTO Director-General's representative at the G-20.
During her tenure as Executive Director of the International Trade Centre, González has spearheaded global efforts to empower women economically. This has included the launch in 2015 of the , which aims to connect three million women entrepreneurs to market by 2021. She also played a leading role in the adoption of the at the 11th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in December 2017. In 2019, González co-edited "Women Shaping Global Economic Governance", a collection of essays by 28 women leaders from across the globe.
In 2014, González launched the first , gathering public and private sectors in an effort to drive the debate on the greening of trade and addressing trade and climate change. The 6th edition of the Trade for Sustainable Forum was held on 7-9 October 2019.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation

On 13 January 2020 she was sworn in Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation in the Sánchez Second Cabinet, succeeding Margarita Robles as acting Minister.
In May 2020, some media echoed the rumors that would make González Laya the favorite to lead the World Trade Organization after the announcement that the Director-General, Roberto Azevedo, would resign in August 2020.

Other activities

González has been an advocate for Spanish unity and dialogue on the Catalan independence issue.

Personal life

González has taught extensively on trade and development, including at the College of Europe, the IELPO, the World Trade Institute and the Shanghai Institute of Foreign Trade. She speaks six languages: Spanish, Basque, English, French, German and Italian. Her hobbies include trekking and arts.