Final report for formal adoption at CM13

On January 9, 2024, World Trade Organization (WTO) representatives finalized the conditions for Comoros’ integration. The official presentation of the final report is scheduled for the 13th Ministerial Conference (CM13) of the WTO, taking place from February 26 to 29 in Abu Dhabi.

The Working Group on Comoros’ WTO Accession convened its concluding session to adopt the terms of the country’s accession. Attendees included WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, members of the Organization Organization, and Comoros’ Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, Kamalidine Soeuf.

Comoros’s accession to the WTO marks a significant milestone, granting the country access to the international trade regulations established by the Organization. Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the mutual benefits of this accession, given Comoros’ membership in the African Union, the Francophonie, and the Arab League. As such, the integration of this island state into the WTO at CM13 in the United Arab Emirates received approval.

It has been 17 years since this government initially applied for WTO accession, expressed the Director-General. « I hope that we can do better in the future and move faster, as 22 countries wish to join the organization. »

However, defending national interests and objectives at the WTO presents significant challenges. Minister Kamaldini Souef emphasizes that Comoros’ accession to the WTO marks not an end but the beginning of another, more ambitious project. Specifically, it entails modernizing public administration’s financial management to align with the commitments made for WTO accession.