Ethiopia aims to join WTO without opening up sectors

Tue Feb 8, 2011 1:17pm GMT

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* Addis Ababa does not want to free bank, telecom sectors

* Ethiopia hopes to join WTO soon

* Poor country with potentially large market

By Aaron Maasho

ADDIS ABABA, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Ethiopia said on Tuesday it expected to gain entry to the World Trade Organisation soon without giving way to foreign demands that it open up its banking and telecoms sectors.

Analysts say the Horn of Africa country's hopes for WTO membership hinge on calls for Addis Ababa to open those areas to international competition, in a country where most people have no telephone or bank accounts.

U.S. officials have publicly asked Ethiopia to liberalise both sectors, seen as a stumbling block to Ethiopia's efforts for accession to the WTO since 2003 -- which could help boost investor confidence, enticing foreign cash and know-how.

The country of 80 million people is among the world's poorest and one of its largest recipients of foreign aid. It is scheduled to hold its second working party meetings, a major foundation for prospective membership in May. Continued...

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