India Signs Bilateral Protocol Backing Ethiopia’s WTO Accession, Signals Stronger Global South Trade Partnership

India has taken another step in strengthening its economic diplomacy with Africa by signing a bilateral accession protocol with Ethiopia in Geneva, supporting the East African nation’s ongoing bid to join the World Trade Organization. The agreement was signed on 22 May 2026 as part of Ethiopia’s accession process to the WTO, marking an important moment in India’s wider commitment to helping developing countries integrate more fully into the global trading system.

The protocol was signed by Dr. Senthil Pandian C., Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the WTO, on behalf of India. Ethiopia was represented by Tsegab Kebebew Daka, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva. After the signing ceremony, the protocol and its annexes were formally handed over and deposited with the WTO Secretariat.

The move reflects India’s consistent position that the multilateral trading system must remain open, inclusive and responsive to the needs of developing countries and Least Developed Countries. For New Delhi, supporting Ethiopia’s WTO accession is not merely a technical trade gesture, but part of a broader Global South approach that seeks to make international trade rules more balanced and development-friendly.

The agreement was concluded under the guidance of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, with the process being fast-tracked to help Ethiopia move forward in its WTO membership journey. Ethiopia is currently at an advanced stage of its accession process. Its WTO Working Party met for the seventh time on 22–23 April 2026, indicating that the country’s long-running effort to join the organisation has entered a more serious phase.

WTO accession requires a country to align its domestic trade and economic policies with WTO rules while also negotiating market-access commitments with existing WTO members. For Ethiopia, this process is closely linked to wider economic reform, investment liberalisation and efforts to connect more deeply with global value chains. Membership could offer Ethiopian businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, wider access to international markets while also encouraging regulatory certainty for investors.

The signing also comes at a time when India-Ethiopia relations are gaining strategic depth. India is one of Ethiopia’s major economic partners, and the PIB release notes that India is Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, while Indian companies are among the leading foreign investors in the country. Bilateral ties were elevated to a Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Ethiopia in December 2025.

Ethiopia occupies an important position in the Horn of Africa and remains one of the continent’s key emerging economies. For India, deeper engagement with Ethiopia fits into a larger Africa policy built around trade, capacity building, development cooperation, investment and South-South solidarity. The WTO protocol therefore adds an institutional trade layer to a relationship that already includes people-to-people ties, education, business links and civilisational goodwill.

The agreement is expected to create fresh opportunities for trade, investment and business collaboration between the two countries as Ethiopia advances its domestic reforms. For Indian companies, a more rules-aligned Ethiopian economy could open up new possibilities in sectors such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, technology, agriculture, infrastructure, services and capacity-building partnerships.

At a larger level, India’s support for Ethiopia’s WTO accession sends a clear message: the global trading system must not be shaped only by advanced economies, but must also make space for the aspirations of developing nations. By backing Ethiopia’s integration into the WTO framework, India is reinforcing its role as a constructive voice for the Global South and a partner willing to help emerging economies enter the mainstream of global commerce on fairer terms.