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
KEETMANSHOOP: The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) has reported that 10 000 more Mandrax tablets were found in the truck driven by a 51-year-old suspect arrested for drug possession at the Ariamsvlei border post last week.
NamPol’s crime investigations coordinator for the ||Kharas Region, Deputy Commissioner Nikodemus Mbango, in an interview with Nampa on Sunday said after members of the Drug Law Enforcement Subdivision from Keetmanshoop were dispatched to the border post, Mandrax tablets valued at over N.dollars 1 million were allegedly found in the truck.
This is in addition to the 6 186 full Mandrax tablets and 49 half Mandrax tablets worth a total N.dollars 745 260 that were allegedly initially found in the truck when the man was arrested around 00h30 last Sunday.
‘It is alleged that the suspect entered Namibia from South Africa with a truck. When it was searched, six transparent plastic bags of suspected Mandrax tablets were found,’ said Mbango.
The total value of the drugs now stands at N.dollars 1 94
6 520.
The man faces one count of dealing in prohibited dependence-producing substances and he is expected to appear in the Karasburg Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
Police investigations continue.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency