• Comoros became the 165th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) last year after the island nation approved the protocol for its accession on 26 February 2024.
• Along with its strategic location in the Indian Ocean and access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Comoros’ WTO membership is already helping it to advance its economy.
• The island nation has five key development areas: tourism, the blue economy, financial and logistics services, agriculture and niche industries such as natural cosmetics and seafood products.

Membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) provides a significant opportunity for the world’s least developed countries (LDCs) to advance their economic growth.

Cambodia is a perfect illustration of this. The rise in market access and political stability that followed Cambodia's accession to the WTO in 2004 sent positive signals to foreign investors, enabling foreign direct investment inflows into the country to rise from $130 million in 2004 to $3.58 billion in 2022. Similarly, its merchandise exports have grown significantly from $2.8 billion in 2004 to $22.47 billion in 2022.

Although there are differences in economic structure, geography and population size to navigate, Comoros – an archipelago of three islands off the coast of East Africa – can draw inspiration from Cambodia's remarkable progress. This island nation in the Indian Ocean became the WTO's 165th member in August 2024 after 17 years of negotiations.