The Ethiopian Ministry of Trade announced that Ethiopia expects join the World Trade Organization (WTO) by 2015.

Lesanework Zerfu, Head of the Multilateral Trade Relations Department of the Ministry told journalists at a press conference that Ethiopia’s accession to WTO is expected to be finalized in the third quarter of 2015.

Lesanework emphasized that the negotiations so far were being conducted in a manner that safeguarded the national interest of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia will have an increased chance of being admitted into WTO after the organization  adopted new rules last year, allowing developing countries to join by requiring to open fewer sectors, liberlise fewer types of transactions, and only open up their markets as their economies develop.

Ethiopia applied to become member of the WTO in 2003. Currently WTO have 159 full members and 34 countries on accession Process.

Source: Bloomberg