The ITTF believes it has now reached all possible countries and territories across the globe.

ITTF President Thomas Weikert was present at a welcoming ceremony in the African nation, before handing over the ITTF flag to Guinea-Bissau Table Tennis Federation President Avelina Jandi.

He also met with the President of the country's National Olympic Committee, Sergio Mane, and State Secretary for Youth, Culture and Sport, Tomas Barbosa.

ITTF development director Leandro Olvech was also in attendance.

"For the ITTF and for myself, our small associations have been a clear priority for many years, thanks to the dedicated work of the ITTF development department," said Weikert.

"Our focus must now be the empowerment of our smallest and most recent members, and through our ITTF marketing department we have secured the support of Seamaster to achieve this.

"I am very glad to have the possibility to see with my own eyes the situation of an Association starting from zero.

"This allows me a better understanding of the reality of this type of Association."

Weikert added: "Bringing table tennis to all parts of the world was a priority for the ITTF and I am really happy to see this process ended, but we have to be aware that the challenges don't end here but rather change the priority into empowering. 

"This will be done with education, a key word for the development, by implementing administration courses to all National Associations who want to take part, and promoting healthy, sustainable and autonomous members."

The official approval of Guinea-Bissau, together with Cape Verde, Eritrea and The Bahamas, will be made at the ITTF Annual General Meeting on May 31 in Düsseldorf in Germany during the 2017 World Championships.

Following the official induction, the four new members will receive $25,000 (£19,400/€23,000) in technical support from Chinese shipping company Seamaster, the title sponsor of the ITTF World Tour, and $5,000 (£3,800/€4,600) in equipment support, alongside coach education and organisational development.

"It is an honour for me to have received Thomas Weikert and Leandro Olvech in Guinea-Bissau," said Jandi.

"I am highly committed to implementing table tennis throughout the country and would like to express my gratitude towards the support received from the ITTF, the National Olympic Committee and the State Secretary for Youth, Culture and Sport."

Weikert is currently campaigning to retain the leadership of the ITTF at the expense of the only other remaining candidate, Jean-Michel Saive of Belgium.

The German remains the favourite to continue in the role as he seeks to be elected onto the post for the first time.

The 55-year-old has served as ITTF President since September 2014, but he assumed the position automatically as he was Adham Sharara's deputy when the Canadian stepped down.