Beginning today, July 23, Cape Verde will be the 153rd member of the World Trade Organization, concluding a process that began in 1999. The WTO considers Cape Verde a success story, as it is the only nation that has ever joined the Organization through negotiations while still a Least Developed Country.

After a long negotiation process that began in 1999 and wrapped up in December of last year, and one month after the Protocol for Cape Verde's Adherence to the WTO was submitted, Cape Verde will be accepted today, July 23, as a full-fledged member of the organization.

As a way of welcoming its new member, the WTO placed a gigantic banner on the main façade of its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland last week.

As a member of the organization, Cape Verde will have to adapt, update and regulate its normative Framework to conform with international norms, with the most urgent areas related to commercial legislation, health-related regulations, customs laws and copyright laws.

In order to mark the event, Minister of the Economy, Growth and Competitiveness Fátima Fialho will give a press conference at 9:30 am today in Praia.