ADDIS ABABA – The Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration (MoTRI) has announced that Ethiopia is actively pursuing membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO).
The MoTRI aims to complete the accession process by the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cameroon in 2026, it was learnt.
Ethiopia recently concluded its fifth meeting of the WTO Working Party in Geneva, Switzerland. Minister Kassahun Gofe (PhD), Ethiopia’s Chief Negotiator, led the delegation.
“We successfully concluded our negotiations and agreed to hold the sixth working group meeting in July of this year,” stated Minister Kassahun. “We are committed to completing our necessary preparations to join the WTO family at the 14th Ministerial Meeting in Cameroon in 2026.”
Minister Kassahun urged WTO member countries to expedite bilateral market access negotiations. He emphasized Ethiopia’s commitment to WTO membership, highlighting its ongoing efforts to open trade and investment to foreign entities, alongside privatization initiatives.
The WTO session garnered strong international support, with over 19 nations expressing their backing for Ethiopia’s accession during the opening ceremony, according to Minister Kassahun’s official social media.
WTO membership is expected to provide Ethiopia with numerous benefits, including improved market access, enhanced trade relations, and modernization of its service, agriculture, and other sectors.
In a related development, WTO Director-General Okonjo-Iweala (PhD) addressed the forum “Mobilising African Investment and Financing to Drive Agenda 2063’s Vision,” highlighting significant economic challenges facing the continent. She noted that Africa loses over 88 billion USD annually due to illicit financial transactions and more than 12 billion USD from illegal fishing.
Ngozi emphasized that these illicit financial flows and illegal activities related to migration and trade are severely impeding Africa’s economic progress. She also acknowledged the challenging geopolitical environment, which further hinders the continent’s development goals outlined in Agenda 2063. “We are collaborating with the WTO and relevant regional and continental organizations to address these issues at the grassroots level,” she stated.
BY MESERET BEHAILU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 21 MARCH 2025
