**Executive Summary**
On 22 May 2026, India and Ethiopia signed a bilateral accession protocol in Geneva to facilitate Ethiopia’s membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). This agreement, fast-tracked under the guidance of India's Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, follows the 2025 elevation of bilateral ties to a Strategic Partnership. The protocol has been formally deposited with the WTO Secretariat, marking a significant step in Ethiopia's advanced stage of global trade integration.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Protocol Signing and Formalities**
* The bilateral accession protocol was signed on 22 May 2026 in Geneva by Dr. Senthil Pandian C. (India) and Tsegab Kebebew Daka (Ethiopia).
* Following the ceremony, the Protocol and its annexes were officially handed over and deposited with the WTO Secretariat.
* The agreement was fast-tracked and concluded under the guidance of the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal.
**Strategic and Economic Context**
* India and Ethiopia elevated their bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership in December 2025 during a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
* India currently serves as Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, with Indian companies being leading foreign investors in the country.
* The document reaffirms India’s policy of supporting the integration of developing and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) into the global trading system.
**Ethiopia’s WTO Accession Progress**
* Ethiopia is in the advanced stages of joining the WTO; its Working Party held its seventh meeting on 22–23 April 2026.
* The accession process mandates that Ethiopia aligns its domestic economic and trade policies with WTO rules.
* Ethiopia is required to negotiate and fulfill market access commitments with existing WTO members.
**Future Trade Prospects**
* The accession process is expected to drive economic and trade policy reforms within Ethiopia.
* These reforms are anticipated to create new opportunities for investment, trade, and business collaboration between the two nations.
**Impact Analysis**
**The Government of Ethiopia**
**Impact:** Moves into the final stages of WTO membership, necessitating significant alignment of domestic trade laws with international standards.
**Action Required:** Must continue implementing economic and trade policy reforms and fulfill market access commitments negotiated with member states.
**Indian Companies and Investors**
**Impact:** Will likely benefit from a more regulated and predictable trade environment in Ethiopia, which is one of their primary investment destinations.
**Action Required:** Should prepare to explore new opportunities for enhanced trade and business collaboration resulting from Ethiopia’s policy reforms.
**WTO Secretariat**
**Impact:** Receives the formal bilateral agreement and annexes required to progress the multilateral accession process.
**Action Required:** Must process the deposited protocol as part of the formal record-keeping for Ethiopia’s membership bid.
Key Entities Referenced
World Trade Organization (WTO): The international body overseeing global trade rules, which Ethiopia is in the process of joining through bilateral and multilateral negotiations.
Bilateral Accession Protocol: The specific agreement signed between India and Ethiopia to facilitate Ethiopia's entry into the WTO by defining market access commitments.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry: The primary Indian government ministry that fast-tracked and concluded the trade negotiations and the signing of the protocol.
Strategic Partnership: The elevated diplomatic and trade framework established between India and Ethiopia in December 2025, providing the basis for enhanced bilateral collaboration.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
India and Ethiopia Sign Bilateral Accession
Protocol for Ethiopia’s WTO Membership in
Geneva
India Reaffirms Support for Developing Countries’ Integration
into Global Trading System through WTO Accession Process
Posted On: 22 MAY 2026 9:36PM by PIB Delhi
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, Shri 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 Shri 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.
***
Abhishek Dayal/ Garima Singh/ Ishita Biswas
(Release ID: 2264383) Visitor Counter : 843
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