WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO)

Ethiopia and WTO

• Ethiopia is an observer at WTO
• WTO assists in programs which give priority to the development of commodity supplies, capacity building and strengthening enterprises

COMMON MARKET for EASTERN and SOUTHERN AFRICA (COMESA)

Ethiopia and COMESA

• Ethiopia is one of the founding countries of COMESA;
  Ethiopia was chairman of the organization when it was transformed from PTA to COMESA;
• His Excellency Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was elected as Chairman of COMESA for one year at the seventh Summit of the COMESA Authority of Heads of State and Government which was held in Addis Ababa, from 23-24 May, 2002
• Ethiopia made a 10% tariff reduction on goods coming from member countries
• Ethiopia is one of the six countries chosen for oil seeds development project;
• The Debrezeit National Livestock vaccination medicines Production Company was chosen as COMESA's center for livestock medicine production facility;
• The COMESA leather institute is established in Ethiopia;
• The Akaki hand tools and spare parts factory is chosen to be COMESA's spare parts manufacturing center

INTERGOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY ON DEVELOPMENT (IGAD)

Ethiopia and IGAD

• Ethiopia is one of the founding countries of IGAD
• Ethiopia has contributed a lot in formulating the priority area like
  • Infrastructure development, food security, environmental protection
  • Conflict prevention, management, resolution and humanitarian affairs
• Since the establishment of IGAD Ethiopia participates in all experts, ministerial and heads of Government and State conferences.
• Ethiopia could manage to convince member states to set up an organ on conflict prevention, management and resolution
• Ethiopia being the biggest, strategic and historically important country in the sub-region is committed to the strengthening of IGAD and strives to achieve this objective more than ever.