New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) India has consistently supported the accession of developing countries and ‘Least Developed Countries’ to the World Trade Organization (WTO), signing the bilateral accession protocol in Geneva in the context of Ethiopia’s accession to the WTO.

According to Commerce Ministry, the protocol was signed by Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of India to the WTO, Dr Senthil Pandian C., on behalf of India, and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Tsegab Kebebew Daka, on behalf of Ethiopia.

Following the signing, the Protocol and its annexes were formally handed over and deposited with the WTO Secretariat, said the ministry.

According to the ministry, as Ethiopia advances economic and trade policy reforms through the WTO accession process, new opportunities are expected to emerge for enhanced trade, investment, and business collaboration between India and Ethiopia.

The agreement was fast-tracked and concluded under the guidance of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.

The WTO accession process requires aligning domestic economic and trade policies with WTO rules and negotiating market access commitments with existing members.

Ethiopia is currently at an advanced stage of its accession process, with its Working Party having met for the seventh time on April 22–23, 2026.

India recognises that their fuller integration into the multilateral trading system and global value chains is essential for building a more inclusive and balanced global economy.

India is Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, and Indian companies are among the leading foreign investors in Ethiopia.

Bilateral relations between the two countries were elevated to a Strategic Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ethiopia in December 2025.

–IANS

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