WTO chief says seeing Ethiopia as member of the Organization is one of her main initiatives

Addis Ababa, March 21, 2025 (FMC) – The Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Nicozi Awela, stated she will make an official call to African member states to support Ethiopia’s bid to become member of the global international trade organization.

Ethiopia’s bid for WTO accession has received the intergovernmental organization’s Director-General backing during a meeting between Ethiopia’s negotiating team led by Minister of Trade and Regional Integration Mr. Kassahun Gofe and Dr. Nicozi Awela in Geneva.

“We had a fruitful discussion with the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Nicozi Awela, regarding the WTO accession negotiation process in our country [Ethiopia]”, Kassahun stated on his social media page after the discussion with Dr. Nicozi Awela.

The Minister disclosed that his team briefed the WTO chief on the progress of bilateral and multilateral negotiations that the Ethiopian team has undertaken so far.

Looking ahead, the Ethiopian team also raised the issues that need national and joint efforts.

In response, Dr. Nicozi Awela stated that seeing Ethiopia as a member of the World Trade Organization is her greatest initiative, while assuring the Ethiopian team that she will not hesitate to provide any kind of support.

Furthermore, she stated that she will make an official call to the African Group and member states to support Ethiopia’s membership accession negotiations.