India and Ethiopia signed a bilateral accession protocol in Geneva on 22 May 2026 as part of Ethiopia's accession to the World Trade Organisation. The protocol was signed by the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the WTO, Dr Senthil Pandian C., on behalf of India, and by the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Ethiopia in Geneva, Tsegab Kebebew Daka, on behalf of Ethiopia. The protocol and its annexes were formally handed over and deposited with the WTO Secretariat.

India reiterated its consistent support for the accession of developing countries and least developed countries to the World Trade Organisation, stating that fuller integration into the multilateral trading system and global value chains is essential for a more inclusive and balanced global economy. The agreement was fast tracked and concluded under the guidance of the Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal. Officials described the step as part of India's broader engagement to facilitate accession processes.

India and Ethiopia share deep and enduring people to people and civilisational ties, and economic links have strengthened in recent years. India is Ethiopia's second largest trading partner and Indian companies are among the leading foreign investors in Ethiopia. Bilateral relations were elevated to a Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ethiopia in December 2025. The WTO accession process requires aligning domestic economic and trade policies with WTO rules and negotiating market access commitments, and Ethiopia's Working Party met for the seventh time on 22-23 April 2026.

As Ethiopia advances economic and trade policy reforms through the accession process, authorities anticipate enhanced opportunities for trade, investment and business collaboration with India. The bilateral protocol is intended to provide a clearer framework for private sector engagement and cooperation on regulatory reform. The handover to the WTO Secretariat formalises commitments by both governments and marks an important step in Ethiopia's path to membership. India reaffirmed its readiness to support capacity building and technical cooperation during the accession period.