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

Somali Region Advances Budget Independence as Revenues Rise

Somali Regional State is moving closer to fiscal independence, with nearly half its budget now funded locally. Officials point to rising agricultural output and stronger tax enforcement as key drivers behind growing revenues. The region plans to cover 32.5 billion Br from its own resources in the upcoming fiscal year. Communication Head Mohammed Abdi credited last year's tax collection of 18 billion Br, exceeding the 17 billion Br target, to agriculture, khat, and other taxable goods. The reg...


Radar

Environmental Protection Authority Shuts Down Polluters

Addis Abeba's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has taken enforcement action against 3,249 manufacturers and service providers found violating environmental standards in the 2024/25 fiscal year. The violations, ranging from air and noise pollution to improper waste disposal, were identified during inspections of 14,872 businesses citywide. Penalties included warnings and closures, with shutdown orders issued to six plastic factories, 23 block factories, a soft paper plant, 102 nightclu...


Radar

Ministry Mandates Full Electronic Clearance for Top Taxpayers

Taxpayers under the Ministry of Revenues' Medium No. 1 branch will have to ditch paper filings and switch entirely to the e-Clearance system for non-audited services starting August 1, 2025. The mandate, routed through the Ministry's e-filing portal, is pitched as part of a broader push to modernise tax administration and advance the government's digital agenda. Officials say the platform lets users process clearance requests remotely via the Fayda national ID, cutting out manual paperwork. A...