President Assoumani and Director-General Okonjo-Iweala agreed that capacity-building support from the WTO and development partners, such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the UN Trade and Development Agency (UNCTAD), is key to ensuring a successful post-accession strategy. They stated that the upcoming WTO Global Review of Aid for Trade on June 26-28 presents a good opportunity to engage with these and other institutional partners in preparing Comoros for WTO membership.
Both leaders reiterated the important role that trade and the WTO play in developing and expanding the economic base and export potential of Comoros, particularly in sectors such as tourism, finance, and digitalization. Regional cooperation and integration, including through the African Continental Free Trade Area, was highlighted as another key element for further economic diversification.
The Comoros Accession Working Party was established on October 9, 2007. Members of the Working Party concluded negotiations on January 9, 2024, and the accession was approved on February 26, 2024, during MC13.