UK Pledges to Aid Ethiopia's Accession to World Trade Organization

Jun 24 , 2023


[ssba-buttons]

Amidst Ethiopia's efforts to gain membership in World Trade Organization (WTO), the United Kingdom has pledged technical, regulatory and financial support of 450,000 pounds. Gebremeskel Chala, minister of Trade & Regional Integration and Nigel Huddleston, state minister for International Trade, inked the agreement last week at the British Embassy on Fikremariam Aba Techan St. Ethiopia has been eyeing the largest trade organization consisting of 164 member states, amounting to 98pc of the global trade economy. Gebremeskel said the accession has moved slowly over the past few years, but efforts to liberalize the trade market by the Ministry have been ongoing, with a host of policies and regulatory frameworks being formulated recently. "The country has been protected for a long time with not a lot to show for it," Gebremeskel told Fortune. "It's only through liberalization that we can move forward." Nigel remarked that Ethiopia's trade has been closed off for a long time, and it is going to take a while for the country to achieve liberalisation fully. Tangible policies that make an economy open to trade and investment with the rest of the world are needed for sustained economic growth, according to an IMF report.


Radar

Milkii App Disburses 25 Million Br in Collateral-Free Loans in Two Months

Oromia Bank's new collateral-free digital lending app, Milkii, has disbursed 25 million Br in loans without requiring collateral. Of this, 16 million Br has already been repaid, generating 1.4 million Br in revenue within just two months. Developed in partnership with Quantum Technology PLC, the app plans to make lending more accessible and inclusive, aligning with Oromia Bank's contribution to the Digital Ethiopia initiative. According to a press release, Milkii promotes financial inclusi...


Radar

Ethiopia Partners with UK to Ease Shipping Bottlenecks

The Ethiopian Freight Forwarders & Shipping Agents Association (EFFSAA) and the British International Freight Association (BIFA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 27, 2025, at Hyatt Regency Addis Abeba, to address skills gaps, customs delays, and corridor inefficiencies in the freight and logistics sector. The partnership focuses on technical cooperation, training, and regulatory reform. With over 90pc of trade dependent on the Djibouti corridor, rising congestion, customs...


Radar

Education Authority Sanctions Mishqen College for Rule Violations

The Education & Training Authority has issued a decisive directive last week, mandating legal action against Mishqen College for persistently defying regulatory orders and unlawfully continuing to offer higher education services. Mishqen College had previously been licensed to conduct undergraduate distance learning programs across multiple regions from 2019 to 2022. However, after serious regulatory breaches, the institution was ordered to cease all instruction, complete pending academic...