H.E. Dr. Kassahun Gofe, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration and Chief Negotiator of Ethiopia’s WTO accession, participated in the Ninth Working Party Meeting on the Accession of Uzbekistan, held in Geneva. This engagement provided Ethiopia with a valuable opportunity to draw insights from Uzbekistan’s accession process as Ethiopia prepares for its Fifth Working Party Meeting in early 2025.
On the occasion, H.E. Dr. Kassahun delivered a statement commending Uzbekistan’s substantial progress in advancing its accession process and concluding bilateral negotiations. He emphasized the shared aspirations of developing nations undertaking economic reforms to integrate into the global trading system. He also reaffirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to its own WTO accession journey, drawing inspiration from Uzbekistan’s steadfast dedication. He further expressed Ethiopia’s full support for Uzbekistan’s efforts, underscoring the potential of its WTO membership to enhance global trade cooperation and promote economic diversification.
