India and Ethiopia Sign WTO Accession Protocol in Geneva

Ø India Reaffirms Support for Developing Countries’ Integration into Global Trading System through WTO Accession Process

· India and Ethiopia signed a bilateral accession protocol related to Ethiopia’s membership process in the World Trade Organization on 22 May 2026 in Geneva.

· The protocol was signed by Senthil Pandian C. on behalf of India and Tsegab Kebebew Daka on behalf of Ethiopia.

· After signing, the protocol and related annexes were formally deposited with the WTO Secretariat.

· India reiterated its strong support for the accession of developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) into the multilateral trading system under the WTO framework.

· India stated that greater integration of developing economies into global value chains is important for creating a more inclusive and balanced global economy.

· The agreement was fast-tracked under the guidance of Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

· India and Ethiopia maintain longstanding civilisational and people-to-people ties.

· India is Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, while Indian companies are among the major foreign investors in Ethiopia.

· Bilateral relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ethiopia in December 2025.

· Ethiopia is currently at an advanced stage of the WTO accession process, with its WTO Working Party meeting held for the seventh time on 22–23 April 2026.

· WTO accession requires countries to align domestic trade and economic policies with WTO rules and negotiate market access commitments with existing WTO members.

· India noted that Ethiopia’s ongoing economic and trade reforms are expected to create new opportunities for bilateral trade, investment, and business cooperation between the two countries.

[ABS News Service/23.05.2026]

India and Ethiopia signed the bilateral accession protocol in the context of Ethiopia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on 22 May 2026 in Geneva, where the signing ceremony took place. The protocol was signed by Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of India to the WTO, Dr. Senthil Pandian C., on behalf of India, and Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Tsegab Kebebew Daka, on behalf of Ethiopia. Following the signing, the Protocol and its annexes were formally handed over and deposited with the WTO Secretariat.

India has consistently supported the accession of developing countries and Least Developed Countries to the WTO, recognising that their fuller integration into the multilateral trading system and global value chains is essential for building a more inclusive and balanced global economy. The agreement was fast-tracked and concluded under the guidance of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal.

India and Ethiopia share deep and enduring people-to-people and civilisational ties. India is Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, and Indian companies are among the leading foreign investors in Ethiopia. Bilateral relations between the two countries were elevated to a Strategic Partnership during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Ethiopia in December 2025.

The WTO accession process requires aligning domestic economic and trade policies with WTO rules and negotiating market access commitments with existing members. Ethiopia is currently at an advanced stage of its accession process, with its Working Party having met for the seventh time on 22–23 April 2026.

As Ethiopia advances economic and trade policy reforms through the WTO accession process, new opportunities are expected to emerge for enhanced trade, investment, and business collaboration between India and Ethiopia.