Ethiopia has taken another step toward joining the World Trade Organization after signing a Bilateral Market Access Protocol with Thailand at the WTO headquarters in Geneva.
The agreement is expected to strengthen Ethiopia’s progress toward full membership in the global trading system.
The protocol was signed by Ethiopia’s Permanent Representative in Geneva, Ambassador Tsegab Kebebew Daka, and Thailand’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and WIPO, Ambassador Pimchanok Pitfield. Senior officials from both countries, representatives of the WTO Secretariat, and Thailand’s Vice Minister for Commerce, Dr. Kirida Bhaopichitr, attended the signing ceremony.
Ambassador Tsegab described the agreement as a significant breakthrough in Ethiopia’s WTO accession negotiations. He said WTO membership remains a strategic national priority under the government’s broader macroeconomic reform agenda.
He added that the successful conclusion of the talks shows Ethiopia’s commitment to a transparent, predictable and rules-based multilateral trading system, while creating new opportunities for trade, investment and sustainable economic growth.
Thailand’s Vice Minister for Commerce welcomed the signing as an important milestone in the growing economic partnership between the two countries. She reaffirmed Thailand’s support for Ethiopia’s WTO accession and said the agreement would help deepen trade, encourage investment and expand economic cooperation.
Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the multilateral trading system and highlighted the importance of Ethiopia’s WTO accession in supporting economic transformation, sustainable development and deeper integration into the global economy.
Ambassador Tsegab expressed Ethiopia’s appreciation to the Government of Thailand for its support throughout the negotiations, and also acknowledged the role of the WTO Secretariat, the Working Party on Ethiopia’s Accession and WTO members in supporting the accession process.
The latest agreement adds to Ethiopia’s growing list of completed bilateral market access negotiations and brings the country closer to securing WTO membership.
Source (including image): Ethiopian News Agency
