Addis ababa: The Ministry of Finance today convened a high-level meeting of the Development Partners Group (DPG) Heads of Agencies to deliberate on Ethiopia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), underscoring the country's deepening commitment to global and regional economic integration.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, State Minister Semereta Sewasew opened the session, highlighting that WTO accession is embedded within the government's Homegrown Economic Reform Agenda 2. This move aims to strengthen Ethiopia's position in international trade negotiations and enhance its integration into global value chains.
Trade and Regional Integration Minister Kassahun Gofe emphasized that trade integration is a strategic pathway to achieving national development objectives, attracting foreign direct investment, and creating job opportunities for Ethiopia's youth. He noted the "sustained momentum" of the WTO accession process, which aims to complete by the end of 2026.
The meeting highlighted notable strides in Ethiopia's dual-track trade integration efforts. Over the past year, Ethiopia has made progress with the WTO, hosting three Working Party meetings, culminating in the pivotal 7th meeting in Geneva in April 2024.
Bilateral negotiations have advanced significantly, with agreements reached with nine out of seventeen members to date. Ethiopia has also officially launched shipments under the AfCFTA framework in October 2025, opening trade channels to Kenya, Somalia, and South Africa, granting access to a combined market of over 1.4 billion people.
Kassahun informed development partners about the establishment of the Fund and Project Coordination Office (FPCO) within his ministry. This unit promotes transparency, accountability, and better coordination of partner funding with national priorities. He urged development partners to collaborate closely with the Ministry in addressing constraints faced by private sector actors.
Representatives from the World Bank, Germany, and UNCTAD commended Ethiopia's progress. The World Bank praised the country's economic reforms, Germany highlighted support for customs and SMEs, and UNCTAD emphasized efforts to enhance Ethiopia's manufacturing capacity, particularly in agro-processing and leather products.