The 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) commenced today in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Ethiopia is attending the four-day meeting as an observer member of the organization.
At the conference, WTO members will have for the first time dedicated discussions on sustainable development.
Moreover, groups of WTO members will present concrete outcomes and next steps for their respective initiatives on plastics pollution, trade and environmental sustainability, and fossil fuel subsidies reform.
Minister of Trade and Regional Integration and Chief Negotiator for Ethiopia’s WTO accession Chala Gebremeskel, Foreign Affairs State Minister, Ambassador Mesganu Arga, State Minister of Finance, Eyob Tekalign, and Ambassador of Ethiopia to the UAE, Oumer Hussien are among members of the Ethiopian delegation.
The conference is expected to deliberate on a range of issues that are affecting the world including multilateral trade system, WTO’s institutional reform, food security, t
ax and tariff reform activities.
Ambassador Athaliah Lesiba, Chairperson of the WTO General Council, delivered a report highlighting progress on implementing commitments from the previous conference, including strengthening trade reviews and advancing negotiations on fisheries subsidies and e-commerce.
Accession processes for Comoros and Timor-Leste are nearing completion, paving the way for their WTO entry.
Discussions are ongoing regarding the Ministerial Declaration, with a draft document circulated for further consultations. Dedicated sessions are planned to finalize the declaration.
According to Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, Ethiopia is working to complete its accession to World Trade Organization.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency
Sauti Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (Sauti Sacco) Vice-chairperson Stella Maris Muthama has appealed to the community and leadership in Masinga central ward to help raise over Sh3 million for the construction of Mukusu Catholic church in Machakos county.
The prayer house project, which includes a priest’s house when completed is set to be upgraded to a parish since the population of the area is fast growing.
During a funds drive on Sunday Mrs Muthama donated Sh100,000 while the area MP Joshua Mwalyo sent a contribution of Sh10,000, while the community raised Sh130,000.
Mrs Muthama hailed the Catholic Church for promoting education and socio-economic projects in the community.
She stressed the need for the leadership of the Catholic Diocese of Machakos to elevate the local church to a parish which she said will go a long way in spurring the socio-economic development of the community, whose economic status is low.
Mrs Muthama lamented the poorly equipped local dispensary and called on Machakos Co
unty government to support the facility by upgrading it to a health centre, to effectively serve the fast-growing population of the area.
Area Assistant Chief Shadrack Maingi praised the role of the local leadership, led by Mrs Muthama in uplifting the living standards of the community through the expansion of the prayerhouse and several activities in the agricultural sector.
Mr Sammy Mulinge of Mbaitu FM radio station, and a member of the church, lauded the move by the local community in supporting the completion of the construction of the church.
Source: Kenya News Agency
