GENEVA (AFP) — The northern African island nation of Cape Verde, one of the world's poorest states, is to become the 153rd member of the World Trade Organisation in July, the WTO said Monday.
"Cape Verde will become the 153 member of the WTO on 23 July, 2008," said the WTO in a statement, adding that the country had accepted the proposed terms for its membership.
Negotiations between Cape Verde and the WTO started in 1999. The process included the examination of measures undertaken by the African nation to adapt its trading practices to WTO regulations as well as to open its markets to imported goods and services.
With a population of 400,000, Cape Verde, an archipelago in the North Atlantic, specialises in the production of salt and bananas and in fishing.
The country, which became independent from Portugal in 1975, would become the 33rd of the world's 50 least developed countries to join the WTO.
Copyright © 2009 AFP. All rights reserved. More »
