WT/ACC/34  
WT/GC/ 198 
WT/COMTD/LDC/ 27 
 
14 December 2018  
(18-7945) Page: 1/11 
  Original: English  
 
SECOND REGIONAL DIALOGUE ON  WTO ACCESSIONS  
FOR THE GREATER HORN  OF AFRICA  
DJIBOUTI OUTCOME: TRADE FOR PEACE THRO UGH WTO ACCESSIONS  
Djibouti, Djibouti City , 3-6 December 2018  
 
The following communication, dated 14 December  2018, addressed to the Director -General, 
is being circulated at the request of the Delegation of Djibouti . 
 
 
_______________  
 WT/ACC/34 • WT/GC/ 198 • WT/COMTD/LDC/ 27 
 
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  Communication from Ambassador Kadra Ahmed Hassan, Permanent Representative of 
Djibouti in Geneva , addressed to Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, WTO Director -General , on 
11 December 2018  
 
I have the honour to inform you that the  Second  Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for 
the Greater Horn of Africa was successfully held on 3-6 December 2018 in Djibouti . 
 
The discussions at the Regional Dialogue enabled participants  to engage in informative and 
interactive discussions on the contributions of trade and WTO Accessions to peace -building . 
The Dialogue also discussed various aspects of the WTO accession  process , including its interface 
with the AfCFTA, emerging best -practices in the preparatory and the negotiating phases of the 
process, the role of the Accession Chief Negotiator, the inclusiveness of the private sector and other 
stakeholders  in the process.  
 
Participants welcomed the recent progress registered in the acces sions of Comoros, Ethiopia, 
Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.  They pledged their collective support for the conclusion of the 
accession of Comoros in 2019, the resumption of the accession Working Parties of Ethiopia and 
Sudan in early 2019, and the holding of the first Working Party meetings of the accessions of Somalia 
and South Sudan in 2019 following the submission of their respective MFTRs.  
 
Participants also pledged their strong support for the fundamental values and principles of the 
Multilateral Tradi ng System and expressed their concerns about recent protectionism and 
unilateralism.  In this context, they acknowledged the ongoing discussions on WTO reform, which 
provided an opportunity for the WTO to update its rules and modernize its function, in ord er to 
respond to the requirements of the 21st Century.      
 
Please find enclosed herewith the Report of Djibouti Dialogue  "Trade for Peace through WTO 
Accessions ".  At  the request of the Dialogue participants, I would be grateful if you could circulate 
this report  as a WTO document of the Sub -Committee for Least Developed Countries and the General 
Council . 
 
I commend your Secretariat Team for its excellent work in ensuring the success of the Second  
Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Greater Horn of Africa.  On  behalf of the Government 
of the Republic of Djibouti , I would like to support the continuation of the Regional Dialogue on WTO 
Accessions on an annual basis, until the completion of t he remaining accessions in the region.  
 
Please accept, Director -General, the assurances of my highest considerations.  
 
 
 
_______________  
 
 
 
 WT/ACC/34 • WT/GC/ 198 • WT/COMTD/LDC/ 27 
 
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  1  INTRODUCTION  
1. The Second Regional Dialogue on WTO Accessions for the Greater Horn of Africa took place 
in Djibouti from 3 to 6 December 2018. The event was organized by the WTO Secretariat in 
partnership with the Government of Djibouti and the International Trade Centre (ITC). The  Dialogue 
was opened by H.E. Mr. Abdoulkader Kamil  Mohamed, Prime Minister of Djibouti; H.E. Mr. Hassan 
Houmed Ibrahim, Minister for Trade, SMEs, Crafts, Tourism and Formalization (Djibouti); 
Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff, WTO Deputy Director -General; and Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal, Chief, Trade 
Facilitation and Pol icy for Business, ITC.  
2. The opening statements1 acknowledged the timely nature of the Dialogue's 'Trade for Peace' 
theme at a time when the Greater Horn of Africa is experiencing positive social, political and 
economic developments. Additionally, the openin g remarks highlighted the significance of the 
Greater Horn of Africa as the region with the largest concentration of Acceding Governments in Africa 
and in the world, with Comoros (located south to the region), Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and 
Sudan engag ed in the process of WTO accession.  
3. Participants and speakers from the Acceding Governments expressed their appreciation for 
the new 'Trade for Peace' initiative. They emphasized that the WTO accession process was an 
important component of the post -confli ct recovery plans of fragile states, since the WTO Accession 
process enabled states to establish credible economic and trade policy frameworks, and to promote 
transparency and good governance as part of accession related reforms. The participants also 
expressed their appreciation for the continuous efforts of the Government of Djibouti towards peace -
building and stability in the Greater Horn of Africa, highlighted through hosting the Second Regional 
Dialogue.2  
4. Over 80 participants took part in the Regional  Dialogue. They included ministers and senior 
officials from the African Acceding Governments,3 representatives of the Government of Djibouti, 
representatives from WTO Article XII Members (Afghanistan, Montenegro and Yemen), and private 
sector participants  from the aforementioned Acceding Governments. Several development 
organizations have also joined the event, including representatives of the Intergovernmental 
Authority for Development (IGAD), the Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa (TRAPCA), the Unite d 
Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the World Bank Group (WBG). External 
experts from various backgrounds were also present, including Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, 
Nigeria's Chief Trade Negotiator and Director General of the Nigerian Office f or Trade Negotiations; 
Ms Cecilia Klein, Consultant for WTO Accessions and Compliance; and former USTR Director for WTO 
Accessions; and Ms Emilia Malavoloneque, Corporate Communications Strategist, Grupo Neosol.  
5. Participants engaged in a rich, informative and interactive dialogue over several sessions 
that spanned four days. The engagements were based on presentations made by representatives of 
the major stakeholders, followed by open discussions.4  
2  RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE GREATER HORN OF AFRICA  
6. Session 1 was moderated by Ambassador Kadra Ahmed Hassan, Permanent Representative 
of Djibouti to the WTO. The session provided a platform to discuss recent developments in the 
Greater Horn of Africa with a presentation by Mr. Joseph Rwanshote, Program Manager Tra de, 
Industry and Tourism, IGAD, and reports by the representatives of the five Acceding Governments 
on recent developments in their respective accession processes.   
                                                
1 All statements and presentations are made publicly available on the WTO website 
(https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/acc_e/2ndreginaldialogu18_e.htm ).  
2 The first Regional Dialogue was held in Nairobi, Kenya in August 2017, and its theme was "fostering 
synergies and coherence between regional integration and the multilateral trading system through WTO 
accessions".  The outcome document from the first Regi onal Dialogue is contained in WTO document 
WT/ACC/30.  
3 In addition, Equatorial Guinea, also an A cceding Government, sent three officials to the Dialogue on a 
self-funded basis.  
4 The Regional Dialogue was followed by a specialized training on 'Launching  a National Brand ' on 
6 December 2018  (see Annex 1 for full report) . WT/ACC/34 • WT/GC/ 198 • WT/COMTD/LDC/ 27 
 
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  7. Mr. Rwanshote's presentation highlighted that the region was one of the fastest growing in  
Africa, experiencing large inflows of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The region also witnessed 
significant infrastructural developments that have strengthened deeper regional integration, such as 
the establishment of the Djibouti Free Trade Zone and the  liberalisation of the services sector s in 
Ethiopia.  He further emphasized that regional integration complemented domestic reforms by 
fostering synergies in trade relations. Recalling the correlation between trade and peace, he noted 
that this significant ly reduced the likelihood of inter -state armed conflicts.  
8. Ambassador Assoumani Youssouf Mondoha, Permanent Representative of the Union of the 
Comoros to the African Union, conveyed Comoros' objective to conclude its accession negotiations 
in 2019. Since the last Regional Dialogue in Nairobi, Kenya, Comoros had held a Working Party 
meeting in March 2018. Regionally, Comoros signed the African Continental Free Trade Agreement 
(AfCFTA), in March 2018 and officially joined the Southern African Development Com munity (SADC) 
in August 2018.  
9. Mr. Geremew Ayalew Haile, Minister Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the 
WTO, stated that although the Working Party on the accession of Ethiopia had not met since 2012, 
the Government had been implementing s ignificant reforms aimed at aligning its domestic practices 
and policies with WTO requirements. Further, he revealed that Mr. Mamo Mihretu had been appointed 
as the Chief Negotiator for Ethiopia's accession and that the National Steering Committee had been  
re-organized with the specific objective of resuming the accession process as soon as possible.  
10. H.E. Mr. Dahir Adan Abdullahi, State Minister for Commerce and Industry of Somalia, 
expressed the Government's strong commitment to its accession process. He s tated that since the 
establishment of its accession Working Party in 2016, Somalia had appointed a Chief Negotiator and 
was finalizing its Memorandum on the Foreign Trade Regime (MFTR). He further added that Somalia 
had been undertaking reforms focused on the extraction of natural resources with a view to 
increasing state revenue s; and had been enacting laws on trade licensing, intellectual property 
rights, investment, and government procurement. Regionally, Somalia had joined the Common 
Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in July 2018and was acceding to the East African 
Community (EAC).  
11. H.E. Mr. Agak Achuil Lual Manok, Undersecretary of Trade of South Sudan, noted that the 
Working Party on the accession of South Sudan had been established in Bue nos Aires as a direct 
outcome of the first Regional Dialogue. Since then, the Government has signed the AfCFTA in March 
2018, and a revitalized peace agreement in September 2018. He added that South Sudan was in 
the process of implementing its EAC obligati ons, which complements the requisite reforms being 
undertaken for the WTO accession process. South Sudan was finalizing its MFTR, and had 
commenced the process of forming a national steering committee and appointing a Chief Negotiator.  
12. H.E. Mr. Musa Mohamed Karama, Minister of Industry and Trade of Sudan, stated that trade 
played a key role in fostering peace and stability, and that, in particular, the accession to the rule -
based multilateral trading system was considered as a catalyst f or the Government's efforts to 
undertake the necessary economic reform and to promote the rule of law and good governance.  He 
added that Sudan was establishing a National Committee to ensure that all domestic laws and 
regulations in the country were WTO -compliant.  
3  PEACE -BUILDING THROU GH WTO ACCESSION AND  REGIONAL INTEGRATIO N 
13. Session 2, entitled "From Fragility to Resilience: WTO Accession as a Pathway to Peace", 
was moderated by Ambassador Alan Wm. Wolff, WTO Deputy Director -General. The session began 
with presentations by Mr. Michael Ferrantino (World Bank) and Mr. Caiphas Chekwoti (TRAPCA) that 
provided empirical evidence on the relationship between trade and peace.5 This was followed by a 
discussion regarding the impact of WTO membership on peace -buildi ng. The discussion was led by 
Ambassador Mohammad Qurban Haqjo (Afghanistan); Ambassador Zorica Marić -Djordjević 
(Montenegro); Mr. Nagib Hamim (Yemen); and Ms. Emilia Malavoloneque (Grupo Neosol).  
14. The panellists acknowledged that mutual economic interdepen dence could be a mechanism 
for peace. A trade -dependent state was less likely to go to war with a trade partner because of the 
                                                
5 Mr. Ferrantino's presentation was based on the World Bank's publication on "Trading Away From 
Conflict: Using Trade as Resilience in Fragile States" by Massimillano Cali.  WT/ACC/34 • WT/GC/ 198 • WT/COMTD/LDC/ 27 
 
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  larger opportunity cost associated with the loss of trade. Internally, changes in real incomes affected 
incentives to participate  in conflict. Empirical evidence shows that the likelihood of conflict tends to 
be reduced when prices of exportable goods go up and/or prices of consumer goods go down. 
However, the same theory does not apply to point source resources such as oil and mine rals. 
Increases in the prices of exported oil and minerals substantially raise the risk of conflict.  
15. Additionally, the panellists recognized that while trade and economic integration played a 
crucial role in fostering peace, this possibility was only enhan ced when the pre -requisites for peace 
were in place. These include (i) good infrastructure that facilitates trade; (ii) good governance 
underpinned by the involvement of all stakeholders in decision making and effective enforcement of 
laws and regulations;  and (iii) mechanisms that integrate the informal sector into the formal 
economy. Other accompanying policies that can support the role of trade in fostering peace included: 
(i) promoting  labor-intensive exports ; (ii) promoting transparency about the reven ues from point -
source commodities; (iii) protecting the incomes of the poorest from changes in trade flows ; and 
(iv) p aying special attention to trade with neighbors and addressing the underlying sources of 
conflict,  i.e. ethnic conflicts, religious confli cts. etc.  
16. Lastly, the panellists provided their perspectives on the linkages between trade, WTO 
membership and conflicts. They  emphasised that while WTO accession provided an important vehicle 
to drive domestic reforms, reform efforts did not end with WTO membership. Continuous reforms 
would need to be made in the post -accession phase to realize the benefits of WTO membership. It 
was noted that although the WTO had traditionally not been a player in peace -building, serious 
consideration ought to be given to  greater engagement of the Organisation in peace -building. The 
"Trade for Peace" Initiative was cited as a way in which the WTO could contribute to on -going peace -
building efforts in the Greater Horn of Africa.  
17. On Day 3, Ms Hikaru Ouchi (Japan) – speaking  on behalf of Mr. Katsuro Nagai, Chairperson 
of the Working Party on the accession of Sudan – delivered a statement on the "trade for peace" 
experience of Japan following World War II.      
Trade for Peace: The Experience of Japan  
Japan is known today as a highly advanced country (the third largest economy in the world).  However, 
seventy years ago, this was not the case. In the aftermath of World War II, most of Japan had been obliterated. 
It had suffered millions of casualties and  the economy was in shambles. Against this backdrop, Japan's policy 
makers decided that the country's focus would be trade.   
Japan chose to pursue prosperity under the global free trade system. In 1955, 10 years after the end of World 
War II, Japan joined  the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (the GATT).  Taking advantage of the free 
and open global trading and economic system, Japan focused on increasing its exports and subsequently 
enjoyed remarkable growth. In 20 years, Japan increased its GDP twen ty-fold, significantly improving the 
lives of its nationals. By 1968, Japan had become the second largest economy in the world with an average 
GDP growth rate of 7%.  Such economic growth and development enabled Japan to foster and maintain peace.  
Japan h as continued to be a peace -loving nation since the war ended.  Considering its own path to 
development underlined by trade, Japan has firmly been committed to maintaining and strengthening the 
multilateral trading system as well as peace -building.  
The Gov ernment of Japan believes that accession to the WTO provides a great opportunity to frame and 
reform national strategies and relevant policies, even beyond economic and trade policies. These policies 
contribute to improving transparency and predictability,  leading, in turn, to increased trade, investment, 
industrialization, etc. Jobs and other economic opportunities created through the above are crucial elements 
for peace -building.    
 
4  WTO ACCESSION AND TH E AFCFTA  
18. Session  3, entitled "WTO Accession and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)", 
was moderated  by Mr. Micheal Ferrantino (World Bank). The panellists included Ambassador Chiedu 
Osakwe, former Chairperson of the Negotiating Forum of the AfCFTA; Dr. Mag -Teerey (Djibouti); 
Ms. Maika Oshikawa (WTO); and Ms. Mariam Soumaré (WTO). They provided insights on the current WT/ACC/34 • WT/GC/ 198 • WT/COMTD/LDC/ 27 
 
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  architecture, challenges and benefits of the AfCFTA. For the nine African Acceding Governments,6 
the panellists recognized that synergies could b e built around their respective regional, continental 
and multilateral interests.  
19. The panellists recognized that the AfCFTA was an agreement which could modernize African 
economies through its unique institutional framework which had been adapted to accomm odate 
African realities. At the same time, the AfCFTA contained several provisions that mirrored WTO 
provisions. The WTO accession process, through its rigorous reform processes could support the 
Acceding African Governments in creating the enabling enviro nment to effectively implement 
provisions under the AfCFTA in relation to core trade issues like: customs co -operation, technical 
barriers to trade (TBT), sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, trade facilitation etc. The 
binding commitments undertaken  by the Acceding Governments during their accession processes, 
for which they bear accountability at the multilateral level — through Trade Policy Reviews, the 
Dispute Settlement System and transparency mechanisms — are also fundamental in creating the 
enabling environment for implementing the AfCFTA provisions.  
20. While the WTO accession process could complement the reforms envisaged for AfCFTA 
purposes, African Acceding Governments were advised to pay special attention to the sequencing of 
their respective regional and multilateral negotiations. It was acknowledged that the Regional 
Economic Communities (RECs) played an important role in the AfCFTA and the WTO accession 
process since they could act as benchmarks or building -blocks towards further trade liber alization.  
21. Finally, Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal (ITC) provided insights into the business implications of the 
AfCFTA, highlighting the need for private sector involvement in the negotiations by: (i) u sing existing 
national and regional business organizational str uctures to engage with national trade negotiators; 
(ii) collaborating with other stakeholders involved on trade and integration issues;  
(iii) fostering business level consensus by sharing data on challenges and successes of 
implementation. Commentators of this session included private sector representatives from 
Comoros, Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.  
5  EVOLVING BEST -PRACTI CES IN THE WTO ACCES SION PROCESS  
22. Session 4, entitled "Capacity Building through Peer -Learning", was moderated by Ms.  Maika 
Oshikawa, Director, Accessions Division, WTO. It focused on the best -practices in the intertwined 
preparatory and negotiation phases of the accession process.  The objective of the session was to 
facilitate peer learning among those states that have gone t hrough various stages of the accession 
process. The participants acknowledged that the preparatory phase was crucial for laying down the 
necessary roadmap for the negotiation phase. The participants engaged in a constructive 
experience -sharing session that  culminated into the formulation of a list of  
best-practices for WTO accession negotiations:  
Best-practices in the preparatory and negotiation phases of the accession process  
1. A high level of political commitment remained a sine qua non  in all accessions a nd at all 
stages of the accession process.  
2. Ensuring effective internal coordination at the state level by establishing a national 
steering committee composed of technical persons from relevant line ministries. 
The negotiation team should have a clear manda te and be led by a dedicated and qualified 
Chief Negotiator.  The importance of gender considerations in the composition of the team 
was acknowledged.  
3. Establishing a national capacity building programme  to train the core negotiating team 
on: (i) relevant W TO Agreements; (ii) consolidation of accession documentation (MFTR, 
initial offers, etc.). The Acceding Governments were encouraged to utilize technical 
assistance and capacity building opportunities throughout the accession process. 
These  include workshop s, e-learning courses and the provision of literature on WTO 
accession, such as the legal texts and handbooks on WTO Accession.  
4. Undertaking sensitization and outreach programmes  to raise awareness on WTO 
accession and its benefits to relevant stakeholders,  i.e. private sector, parliamentarians, civil 
                                                
6 In addition  to the five Acceding Governments in the Greater Horn of Africa, Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, 
Libya, and Sao Tome and Principe signed the AfCFTA.  WT/ACC/34 • WT/GC/ 198 • WT/COMTD/LDC/ 27 
 
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  society, etc. The above -mentioned programmes can also be used to establish consultative 
and inclusive mechanisms relevant for the accession process.  
5. Conducting data and statistics based studies and research  are vital for identifying the 
gains and losses from trade liberalization as well as ways to mitigate the costs of 
liberalisation. Such these studies and research would later form the empirical basis for the 
intricate negotiations on bilateral market access.  
6. Balancing the rights and obligations of the state in order to obtain mutually beneficial 
outcomes during accession negotiations.  
7. Keeping the accession process active to avoid lags which slow down the accession 
process.  
8. Using the good offices of the WTO Dir ector -General  towards the end of the accession 
negotiations to solve outstanding issues.  
 
The Role of the Chief Negotiator  
23. During a session led by Ambassador Chiedu Osakwe, Nigeria's Chief Trade Negotiator and 
former Chairperson of the Negotiating Forum fo r the AfCFTA, the participants engaged in a 
constructive discussion on the role and responsibility of a Chief Negotiator in the WTO accession 
process.  
24. As a crucial prerequisite for successful negotiations, the participants emphasized that the 
Chief Negotia tor must have access to the highest authority in the government and the Cabinet of 
Ministers. This was imperative for consultative purposes and for the harmonization of national 
positions during the negotiations. Additionally, the Chief negotiator needed t o possess the adequate 
technical knowledge to enable him/her to spearhead the accession process. The  relevance of 
establishing a dedicated office of trade negotiations for coherent policy making and strategic 
planning at the national, regional and multilat eral levels was heavily stressed.  
25. The participants identified the following as fundamental qualities and attributes for a Chief 
Negotiator during the accession process:  
Qualities and Attributes of a Chief Negotiator  
 
✓ Political mandate  
The accession process should be led by a Chief Negotiator appointed with a political mandate. He/she needs 
to have political authority, supported by a dedicated institutional framework to smoothly steer the accession 
process on behalf of the Government.  
 
✓ In depth knowle dge and understanding of the economy  
A Chief Negotiator should possess profound insights, knowledge and understanding of the economy of the 
state, as well as its relationship and interactions with local, regional and international actors. It is of critical  
importance that he/she has a deep understanding of the key sectors of the economy in order to craft a 
negotiating strategy.  
 
✓ Clear negotiating strategy  
A Chief Negotiator should drive the accession process with a clear negotiating strategy. This strategy  should 
entail a clear objective (maximum, minimum and minimax objectives) as well as a negotiation calendar. The 
negotiating approach should focus on solving negotiation complexities technically and avoid politicizing 
technical issues.  
 
✓ Leadership and man agerial skills  
A Chief Negotiator should possess leadership and managerial skills of the highest levels in order to constitute 
and oversee a highly qualified negotiating team composed of technical experts of various backgrounds. The 
above skills are vital for providing the required environment for maximum professional output from each of 
the team members, retaining core members of the negotiating team, and for ensuring the guaranteed 
continuity of the accession process until its completion.  
 
✓ Ability to secu re domestic buy -in 
The Chief Negotiator should have the ability to involve key domestic stakeholders (i.e., civil society, 
parliamentarians, other line ministries, private sector, major industry associations, etc.) from the beginning 
of the accession proce ss. These stakeholders should be adequately consulted throughout the accession 
process.  WT/ACC/34 • WT/GC/ 198 • WT/COMTD/LDC/ 27 
 
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  ✓ Ability to network and establish strong connections  
The Chief Negotiator should have the ability to develop a network of support, as WTO accession is costly and 
requires support, particularly for LDCs. The Chief Negotiator should be able to mobilize financial, technical and 
political support for the accessi on, by building connections with key WTO Members, the WTO Secretariat, 
former accession negotiators, and development partners.  
 
✓ Good public relations skills  
The Chief Negotiator must use every platform to promote the accession process and reach out to key 
stakeholders and the wider non -trade audience domestically and internationally. This is key in mobilizing 
domestic and international support.  
 
✓ Ability to take risks  
It was recognized that being a Chief Negotiator was a high -risk job. Thus he/she should be able to accept 
risks, and stand ready to offer resignation, if necessary.  
 
✓ Personality traits  
Participants identified several personality traits as important in leading an accession negotiating team. An 
accession Chief Negotiator should be: determined, tra nsparent, a good communicator, patient, a trusted 
person, an injector of enthusiasm, a team -player, a conciliator, open to receiving criticism, and versatile .   
 
6  CAPACITY BUILDING AN D STAKEHOLDER INCLUS IVENESS THROUGH WTO ACCESSION  
26. The final day of the Regional Dialogue focused on stakeholder inclusiveness in trade and 
WTO Accession.  The discussion was moderated by Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal (ITC) and included inputs 
from private sector participants from the acceding countries, Article XII Members (Afghanistan  and 
Montenegro), and development organizations (UNECA and the World Bank). The private sector 
participants shared their unique perspectives and unanimously expressed their optimism in the WTO 
accession process as a stimulator for growth in business activi ties in the region.  
27. Mr. Youssouf Abdoulhalik Fakriddine (Comoros), Secretary General of the Union of the 
Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, emphasized all the stakeholders' preparedness 
for competition. He emphasized the need for investment in  trade infrastructure for Comoros to 
realize its economic potentials in the fishing, tourism and oil sectors.  He also highlighted the 
importance of upgrading standards for fishery commodities to maximize export potential.      
28. Mr. Melaku Ezezew  (Ethiopia), President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral 
Associations, welcomed the new Ethiopian Prime Minister's vision for: (i) domestic reforms through 
WTO accession, and (ii) repositioning Ethiopia as a hub for regional integration, fo r example, under 
the co -operation of ports with Djibouti and Eritrea. In his view, WTO accession was necessary to 
create an enabling environment and framework for increased business activity in the country.   
29. Mr. Hashim Ismail Duale, Deputy Director of the  Somali Chamber of Commerce, and  
Mr. Osman Abdullahi Nur, Secretary General of the Somali Business Council (Somalia), highlighted  
the resilience of the Somali business sector, which thrived despite enduring two decades of conflict. 
They noted the country's  readiness for development and encouraged investors to see beyond the 
headlines. As an important trading partner of many countries in the Horn of Africa and beyond, 
Somalia's accession would be of great benefit to the region.  In this regard, the Governmen t has 
been drafting bills to align its laws and regulations with those of the WTO and other international 
institutions.  
30. Mr. Yowa Asholy Dia Soso (South Sudan), Chairman of the Shippers' Council, highlighted 
that South Sudan's economy was driven by oil, whi ch constituted roughly 60% of GDP. He noted the 
necessity of economic diversification, as depending on one commodity which had led to conflicts 
may lead to another conflict.  He emphasized the fundamental importance of good governance, as 
well as rules and  regulations for the private sector.  In this context, he noted the importance of the 
WTO accession process and hoped that a clear roadmap of the accession process would be shared 
with the private sector.    
31. Dr. Babiker M. Tom (Sudan), a senior Parliamenta rian, noted that Sudan's private sector 
had been constantly involved in the WTO accession process through workshops, seminars, and 
outreach activities supported by international donors. He encouraged the continuation of private 
sector involvement.      WT/ACC/34 • WT/GC/ 198 • WT/COMTD/LDC/ 27 
 
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  32. Ambassador Mohammad Qurban Haqjo (Afghanistan), as a commentator, emphasized the 
importance of the private sector's proactive involvement throughout the accession process as they 
knew the specific pinch points and challenges of the economy.  He urged the priv ate sector to reach 
out to the Government during the process of formulating or revising the laws and regulations that 
needed to be compatible with the WTO rules (notably, TBT, SPS, TRIPS, TFA).  He  reiterated the 
importance of creating one voice for the pr ivate sector in formulating ideas for trade policy makers. 
These ideas should be inclusive of the issues of concern to SMEs, women and youth. Finally, he 
urged the private sector to view the WTO accession process with positivity and as an enabler of 
business opportunities.  
33. Ambassador Zorica Marić -Djordjević (Montenegro), former Permanent Representative of 
Montenegro to the WTO, noted that the pace of the accession process was determined by the 
commitment of the Acceding Governments themselves and not the  number of Working Party 
meetings. A fundamental prerequisite was a strong political will to bring all stakeholders together in 
a prepared and inclusive manner. In the case of Montenegro, the biggest rationale for WTO accession 
was to launch domestic refor ms and to transition from fragility and instability to prosperity and 
development. As there was no shortcut in the accession process, she encouraged Acceding 
Governments to continuously educate themselves by participating in technical assistance and 
capaci ty building activities supported by development partners.  
34. On the role and contributions of partner institutions, Mr. Michael Ferrantino, Lead Economist 
of World Bank, noted the three main areas of work  the World Bank could assist with during the WTO 
acces sion process. These include: (i) tariffs, tariff strategy and revenue implications; (ii) services 
liberalization; and (iii) trade facilitation.  Mr. Melaku Geboye Desta, Principal Regional Advisor of 
UNECA, stated that the Regional Integration and Trade Di vision of UNECA could provide any trade 
policy related technical assistance for the Acceding Governments in the region.   
7  CONCLUSIONS AND RECO MMENDATIONS  
35. Participants welcomed the Djibouti Regional Dialogue and its focus on the contributions of 
trade and W TO Accessions to peace -building in the Greater Horn of Africa, as well as the exchange 
of experiences, views and perspectives.  Various aspects of the WTO accession process were 
discussed, including its interface with the AfCFTA, emerging best -practices in  the preparatory and 
the negotiating phases of the process, the role of the Accession Chief Negotiator, and the 
participation of the private sector and other stakeholders.   
36. Participants appreciated experience sharing as one of the most effective ways to b uild 
accession knowledge and negotiating capacity.  In this regard, they welcomed the continuation of 
the Regional Dialogue until all accessions in the Greater Horn of Africa are completed.  It was also 
suggested that Eritrea may consider joining its neigh bors' efforts to pursue WTO accession, as this 
would support the region's on -going efforts for deeper economic integration and would help 
consolidate the recent peace initiatives.     
37. In this regard, the WTO was invited to explore greater co -operation and engagement with 
the peace community, building on the recent "Trade for Peace" Initiative, and to define its role in 
how trade and the WTO could contribute to on -going peace -building efforts around the world.  There 
was a clear recognition that economic and  trade aspects should be given a greater role in peace -
building.  
38. Participants welcomed the recent progress registered in the accessions of Comoros, Ethiopia, 
Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.  In particular, they pledged their collective support for the 
conclusion of the accession of Comoros in 2019, the resumption of the work of the Working Parties 
for the accessions of Ethiopia and Sudan in early 2019, and the holding of the first Working Party 
meetings of the accessions of Somalia and South Sudan in 2019 following the submission of their 
respective MFTRs.  
39. Dialogue participants reiterated strong appreciation to Djibouti, as the only WTO Member in 
the Horn of Africa, for supporting the accession efforts of its neighboring countries, and requested 
Djibouti t o use its position to actively participate in the work of the WTO to promote the interests of 
the Region.  WT/ACC/34 • WT/GC/ 198 • WT/COMTD/LDC/ 27 
 
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  40. Acknowledging the importance of stakeholder inclusiveness in the accession process, 
participants expressed appreciation to the ITC for ensuring the pa rticipation of private sector 
representatives in the Second Regional Dialogue, and requested their continuing participation in 
future Dialogues. They also acknowledged the importance of gender considerations in both capacity -
building and the composition of  the accession negotiation team.  
41. Participants acknowledged the ongoing support provided by development partners for 
technical assistance, training, capacity building, and trade infrastructure, in order to enable African 
countries realize the full benefits of the AfCFTA and the WTO.  They also agreed on the urgent need 
to enhance trade policy knowledge and capacity, including for analysis, strategies and negotiations, 
covering both the legal and economic aspects, especially for countries which are emerging f rom 
conflicts.  In this regard, they appealed to development partners, especially AfDB, IGAD, IMF, ITC, 
TRAPCA, UNECA, WBG and the WTO, to increase support for the accession process and subsequent 
implementation.  
42. Participants recommended that consideratio n be given to the establishment of the Office of 
Trade Negotiations by each African country, in order to promote coherence and effectiveness in 
policy making and strategic planning in trade, at the national, regional and multilateral levels.  
43. Participants a lso pledged their strong support for the fundamental values and principles of 
the Multilateral Trading System and expressed their concerns about recent protectionism and 
unilateralism.  In this context, they acknowledged the ongoing discussions on WTO refo rm, which 
provided an opportunity for the WTO to update its rules and modernize its function, in order to 
respond to the requirements of the 21st Century.      
44. Participants expressed their appreciation to the Government of Djibouti for hosting the 
Second Regional Dialogue and the warm hospitality provided to the participants, as well as the 
invitation to participate in the Second International Trade Fair of Djibo uti, opened by H.E. Ismaïl 
Omar Guelleh, President of the Republic of Djibouti.  They also expressed their appreciation to the 
WTO Secretariat and the ITC for the excellent arrangements.  
45. Dialogue participants requested Djibouti to report on the outcome of the Second Regional 
Dialogue to the WTO membership at the upcoming General Council meeting on 12 December, and 
to the AU Trade Ministers at the upcoming meeting on 12 to 13 December in Cairo, Egypt.  
The Participants also requested that this Report of the Djibouti Dialogue be circulated as a WTO 
document of the Sub -Committee for Least Developed Countries and the General Council.  
 
_______________  WT/ACC/34 • WT/GC/ 198 • WT/COMTD/LDC/ 27 
 
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  ANNEX 1  
SPECIALIZED TRAINING  BY THE INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE  
'Launching a National Brand'  
On 6 December , the ITC provided a specialized training for the participants. The first session began 
with two presentations by Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal, Chief, Trade Facilitation and Policy for Business, 
ITC. The first presentation "A Resilient Private Sector for a Resilien t Country " built on the previous 
day's discussions on the importance of involving the private sector throughout the decision -making 
and implementation processes. As such, public -private dialogues (PPDs) are an important tool to 
raise the importance of issu es on a government 's agenda and build a constituency for reform, thus 
increasing the feasibility of these reforms and also the quality of their content. The second 
presentation, "Export and Investment Promotion Strategies " reviewed ITC 's framework on the 
Interface between Competitiveness and the Trade Policy. This framework illustrates how each stage 
of the trading supply chain is impacted by the implementation of trade policies by the government. 
As such, this framework links the business cycle to governme nt policy instruments, which are 
governed by the legal rules of the WTO, and are therefore relevant to the commitments made by 
governments upon their accession to the WTO.  
In the second session, Mr. Giles Chappell, Trade Policy Advisor, TFPB, ITC provided  a comparative 
analysis of a business -friendly agenda for countries. He considered how cross -border inefficiencies 
impact negatively on the business environment, and highlighted that trade costs are a key decision 
criterion used by multinational corporatio ns when relocating in global value chains. He then used 
the World Bank 's Ease of Doing Business indicators to illustrate the relatively poor performance of 
some countries that were not yet members of the WTO. Following the analysis, Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal 
moderated a panel discussion on how to create a business -friendly agenda, among the private sector 
representatives of Acceding Governments.  
The third session focused on "Championing a National Branding Agenda ". First, Mr. Giles Chappell 
provided insight on ho w trade can play an important role in driving economic empowerment of 
women and youth. He also explained how being in the WTO can help build a more inclusive trading 
system that will allow more women and youth to participate in trade and to reap the econom ic 
benefits of global trading.  Ms. Rahma Omar, Doing Business reforms, National Investment 
Promotion Agency (NIPA) then provided a perspective on how Djibouti promotes national branding. 
Finally, Ms. Victoria Tuomisto, Associate Expert, ITC gave a present ation on national brands, in 
particular, why brands are important, their objectives, how to design a national brand, and 
understanding how branding is a long -term process.  
 
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