The efforts of Ethiopia and Uzbekistan to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) were supported in a recent meeting, attended by Chief Negotiators from both countries and representatives from their development partners. The Vice-President for Europe and Central Asia, Antonella Bassani, and the Acting Vice-President for East Africa, Amit Dar, from the World Bank, along with Ken Kang from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were also present.
Both nations have been working on their accession for several years and are aiming to become members by 2026. These countries, among the most populous in their regions, are undergoing significant economic reforms, transitioning from strong State-controlled economies to market-based systems. The progress has also been attributed to effective negotiation teams, as acknowledged by the presence of their Chief Negotiators at the meeting.
Ethiopia's reforms, initiated under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali since 2018 through the "Home-Grown Economic Reform Programme," have shown positive economic results. Measures such as foreign exchange reforms, liberalization of major services, and reduced restrictions on foreign investment have contributed to consistent economic growth averaging over 6% annually since 2022.
Uzbekistan has also seen reform driven by President Mirziyoyev through key presidential decrees focusing on reducing State dominance and aligning regulations with WTO standards. Legislation reform has continued with the aim of harmonizing domestic laws with WTO agreements, alongside completing remaining bilateral market access negotiations.
Building institutional capacity remains a challenge as both countries prepare for accession, requiring support from development partners and multilateral agencies. Such assistance is crucial to developing expertise in areas like trade remedies, technical regulations, and SPS measures.
The meeting coincided with the WTO's 30th anniversary, highlighted by a speech from former Portuguese Prime Minister José Manuel Barroso emphasizing the organization's ongoing relevance. Ethiopia and Uzbekistan's interest in WTO membership underscores the importance of the multilateral trading system.
"Time is of the essence if we are to meet their accession goals," a speaker noted, expressing hope for a successful outcome soon.