African Union’s Geneva Envoy Girma Advocates Unified African Stance on Trade and IP at Global Forums

The African Union’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office and World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Girma Amente, has called for a stronger, unified African voice on the global stage. In a recent meeting with Claver Gatete, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Girma emphasized the importance of coordinated efforts to enhance Africa’s position in international trade and intellectual property matters.

Girma Amente, who served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Agriculture until his recent appointment, assumed his new role as the AU’s Permanent Representative to the UN Office and WTO in Geneva last month. His transition marks a strategic move to bolster Africa’s representation in key multilateral institutions.

During their discussions, Girma and Gatete highlighted the necessity for Africa to speak with one voice across critical domains such as trade policy, regional economic integration, and the advancement of Africa’s intellectual property framework. This unified approach is seen as essential to effectively advocate for the continent’s interests in global negotiations and policy-making forums.

The meeting underscored the shared commitment between the AU and ECA to deepen collaboration and coordination in addressing challenges and opportunities facing African countries on the international stage.

By consolidating Africa’s positions, the AU aims to improve its leverage in WTO negotiations, ensuring that trade rules and agreements better reflect the continent’s developmental priorities.

Similarly, advancing Africa’s intellectual property agenda was identified as a key pillar for fostering innovation, protecting indigenous knowledge, and attracting investment across the continent.

The dialogue between Girma and Gatete signals a renewed focus on strengthening institutional partnerships to support Africa’s economic transformation and integration efforts.

As the AU Permanent Representative in Geneva, Girma is positioned to lead efforts that align Africa’s trade and IP policies with broader continental goals, facilitating a more influential presence in global governance structures.