The Informal Group of Acceding Governments (IGAG) recently held a meeting, chaired by Ambassador Eldiyor Toshmatov of Uzbekistan and attended by the Director-General (DG) Okonjo-Iweala. This marked the second time DG Okonjo-Iweala has addressed the IGAG, following her initial meeting in November 2021. The participants included representatives from Azerbaijan, the Bahamas, Belarus, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Curaçao, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Serbia, South Sudan, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. This assembly represented the highest number of acceding governments at an IGAG meeting to date.
DG Okonjo-Iweala underscored the significance of this IGAG meeting as it took place shortly after the 13th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference (MC13) in Abu Dhabi and the accession ceremonies of Comoros and Timor-Leste. Reflecting on her 2023 Annual Report on WTO Accessions, she noted that there had been an unprecedented level of accession-related activity over the past year compared to the previous decade.
She also emphasized the intricate nature of accession negotiations and stressed the need for political commitment to expedite these processes. "I have said on numerous occasions that I feel that accession processes take too long and are too complex," she stated. She further added that it is crucial to find solutions to alleviate these burdens while ensuring that acceding governments reap the benefits of accession. She cited Comoros' and Timor-Leste's recent accessions as examples demonstrating that swift accession is possible with strong political will and tailored support.
The acceding governments reaffirmed their commitment to joining the WTO during this meeting. They provided updates on their respective accession processes and proposed several ideas for future accessions work. These suggestions primarily revolved around enhancing knowledge-sharing, technical assistance and capacity building, and increasing engagement within the IGAG and with WTO members.
The IGAG was established in March 2018 to address the growing need for improved coordination and discussion among acceding governments. It consists of 24 acceding governments at various stages of the accession process. The group meets regularly to discuss views on WTO accession, review the status of accession processes, and receive briefings on the latest WTO negotiations. In February 2024, on the sidelines of MC13, it held its first Ministerial meeting.