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

Jun 24 , 2023


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

City Approves Supplementary Budget for Capital Projects

Mayor Adanech Abiebe updated the City Council on the corridor development project during a meeting. While progress has been made, there are outstanding issues for some residents. An estimated 20pc of the 5,135 households impacted by construction have not yet received compensation or replacement housing. The Council approved a supplementary budget of 21 billion Br for the current fiscal year, which ends in two months. Over 90pc of these funds are earmarked for finalising capital projects, with...


Radar

Oromia Insurance Makes Historic Payout to Farmers

Oromia Insurance S.C. facilitated a 39 million Br payout in claims to Amhara Regional State farmers who suffered crop losses due to pest and drought. The initiative involved key stakeholders including the World Food Program (WFP), the Agricultural Transformation Institute (ATI), Pula Advisors, Agriculture and Finance ministries, and German development organisations. Spearheaded by Pula Advisors, the program has reached over 122,000 smallholder farmers, providing insurance against climate risk...


Radar

Ethio telecom Rolls Out Nationwide Digital ID Registration

Ethio telecom has launched a nationwide digital national ID registration program across 19 locations in Addis Abeba and 29 towns nationwide. With plans to register up to one million citizens a month, targeting to reach 32 million people within the next three years. The target represents 36pc of the total national goal of registering 90 million citizens. This program leverages the telco's extensive ICT infrastructure and network services in partnership with the national ID program office, led...


Back
WhatsApp
Telegram
Email