Yemen Monitor / Newsroom:
The Yemeni Minister of Industry and Trade, Mohammed al-Ashwal, stated that Yemen’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) represents a strategic step toward strengthening economic reforms and effectively integrating the country into the global economy.
Al-Ashwal’s remarks came during his speech at the 14th China Round Table on WTO Accessions, held in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Participants included representatives from acceding countries, member states, senior negotiators, and supporting international institutions.
The Minister noted that Yemen’s experience since joining in 2014—despite the exceptional challenges the country has faced—demonstrates that accession is not the end of the road. Rather, it is the beginning of a phase that requires strengthening institutional capacities and complying with the organization’s rules, while benefiting from international expertise in this field.
Al-Ashwal added that the meeting comes at a critical time as the global trading system undergoes rapid shifts and discussions regarding WTO reform. He emphasized that such platforms provide vital opportunities to exchange experiences and support Least Developed Countries (LDCs) on their accession path.
Furthermore, he stressed Yemen’s support for seeking countries, particularly Arab and African nations, calling for the provision of technical support and capacity building to ensure successful accession and to enhance regional economic integration.
Al-Ashwal concluded by reaffirming the importance of knowledge sharing between member states and candidate countries, contributing to a rules-based multilateral trading system and supporting sustainable development and global economic inclusion.
