The Seychelles on Friday sealed its entry to the World Trade Organisation, the Geneva-based body whose 160 members set the rules of global commerce said Friday. The Indian Ocean island, which has spent 18 years negotiating to join, is set to win formal approval in December from the WTO's ruling body to become the organisation's 161st member.
"I welcome the hard work undertaken by WTO members and the government of Seychelles to complete this accession process," WTO chief Roberto Azevedo said. "The WTO provides a vital platform for small economies like Seychelles to make their voice heard at the global level," he said.