Telling the trade stories of least developed countries

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

Since beginning its partnership with the Government of the Union of Comoros in 2011, the Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) has provided around USD 7.4 million in funding – a significant proportion of the total average of USD 40 million in Aid for Trade (AfT) from various partners between 2008 and 2019. The EIF also contributed to increased AfT from other development partners, helping to finance 18 priority areas identified by the Government's Medium-Term Plan for Trade Integration for Comoros (2012-2015) and within the framework of the island's Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper 2010-2014 (DSRP). This was achieved through a multi-donor roundtable organized by the Government through the NIU and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and with the support of France as the donor facilitator.

The Government is targeting its precious ylang-ylang, vanilla and cloves – key cash crops with global demand. Through the partnership with EIF, cooperatives, trainings for female entrepreneurs like Houria and small business support in the form of vats, labels and processing items have laid the foundation for increased trade for the country.