Addis Ababa, 20 February 2015 (WIC) – The Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (AACCSA) said yesterday that the 19th Addis Chamber International Trade Fair would remain open with the theme: ‘Business Enabling Environment for Export Promotion’ here at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Centre February 19 – 25, 2015.

State Minister of Trade Ali Siraj said that this international event is vital platforms for companies to share experiences from their foreign counterparts, initiate business linkages and investment through joint venture arrangements.

The government of Ethiopia is committed to support companies’ endeavors to enhance their competitive positions through improving the business climate and eliminating policy and regulatory bottlenecks that adds cost of doing business to the private sector.

Less competitive firms in developing countries are forced to face competition from most efficient and competitive firms from all corners of the world. To this end, the government has institutionalized Public-Private Consultative Forums to engage the private sector with constructive consultation to address challenges facing business and investment in the country.

AACCSA Secretary General Getachew Regassa said on his part that the Chamber has been in service of the business community for more than 65 years through providing advocacy, business development and capacity building services, among others. One of the key roles of the Chamber is promoting trade and investment in the country using different instruments, he added.

Getachew said the objective of the trade fair is promoting trade and investment through creating venues for promotion of goods and services and facilitating buyer-seller relationships using internationally recognized instruments.

He also said that the 19th edition of ACITF attracted 164 foreign companies from 20 countries and more than 80 local companies to the trade fair.

Liaison Officer to Selet Hulling PLC Teklu Gebre-Hiwot and Sales and Marketing Head with Spectrum Scan PVT.LTD, Indian company, Anil Mathai said on their part that the trade fair exposes them to international competitions and provides good learning ground for their own industries. It is also essential for enhancing competitiveness at national, regional and international levels through networking with international businesses by undertaking mutually beneficial endeavors. (EH)

Addis Ababa, 18 February 2015 (WIC) – Ethiopia generated $114 million from horticulture exports during the first six months of its budgetary year (which began last July), the Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency (EHDA) said Tuesday. “Nearly $91 million of total revenues were secured from the export of 289 million flower cuttings and over 20,000 tons of roses and summer flowers,” Mekonnen Hailu, head of public relations at the EHDA, told The Anadolu Agency. “The balance was obtained from nearly 77,000 tons of vegetables, fruits and herbs,” he added. According to Hailu, the Netherlands represents the main export destination for Ethiopian flowers, accounting for 80 percent of the country’s total flower exports. Other markets include Germany, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Belgium, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), France, Italy, Japan and the U.S. Hailu said the main export destinations for Ethiopian fruits and vegetables included EU countries, the UAE, Somalia, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Sudan, among others.

The EHDA has been registering growth from year to year since its establishment a decade ago, Hailu said. “Ethiopia earned over $245 million from horticultural exports in the last fiscal year ending July 7, 2014,” he explained. “This amount exceeded by more than 6 percent the $230.5 million in revenue generated the previous budget year,” he added. The amount earned in the first six months of the current budget year, he said, had also surpassed – by 7.2 percent – the amount generated in the same period last year. “Demand for Ethiopian horticultural products has increased significantly in the global market and the country’s foreign currency earnings from the sector have grown in tandem,” Hailu told AA. New investors – from the Netherlands, India, Ecuador and Saudi Arabia – have all recently engaged in the [horticultural] sector,” he noted. (World Bulletin)

Addis Ababa, 17 February 2015 (WIC) – Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn said Ethiopia will realize the target set to end harmful traditional practices including female genital mutilation (FGM) before 2025, the deadline set to meet the goal. While discussing with visiting Danish Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth Donaldson yesterday, Hailemariam said Ethiopia has been working to meet the target to end FGM and child marriage by 2025 FGM and harmful traditional practices are “significantly” dropping in the country following concerted efforts exerted during the past years, he added. Girls and women are victims of harmful traditional practices in every part of the country because of the attitude of societies towards these practices. Since increasing knowledge of societies is important to change this reality, the government will continue its efforts to raise their awareness, Hailemariam said.

Crown Princess Donaldson for her part appreciated implementation of relevant instruments such as strategy, legal frameworks and bills that help to fight these practices in Ethiopia. Appreciating the efforts exerted to make the society part of the solution, she said this could be exemplary to other countries.

Ethiopia has managed to halve the rate for FGM and Child marriage between 2000 and 2013. FGM rate has decreased to 23 percent in 2013 from 52 percent in 2000, while child marriage reduced to 8 percent from 32 percent. The country will realize the target to end these practices by 2025, if it continues with the current pace, said Haileleul Seyoum, Women and Youth Mobilization and Participation Director at the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth. The government’s commitment and efforts being exerted to make the society part of the solution by raising awareness, and improved cooperation with partners contributed for the success gained in the area, according to Haileleul.

Addis Ababa, 12 February 2015 (WIC) – Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom met a delegation led by Jose Ramos-Horta, former President of East Timor, Nobel Laureate, and Chairman of the UN’s High-Level Independent Panel on Peacekeeping Operations, on Tuesday (February 10).

The two parties reviewed African and global peacekeeping operations, discussing mechanisms to strengthen the partnership between the African Union and the United Nations in peacekeeping.They also shared details of Ethiopia’s very considerable experience of successful peacekeeping operations, and considered mechanisms to enhance future operations.

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Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn met with President of Djibouti, Ismail Omar Guelleh on Saturday 07 February 2015 in Djibouti. Prime Minister Hailemariam went to Djibouti to attend the first Ethiopia –Djibouti High Level joint commission meeting aimed at bolstering the bilateral relation of the two countries particularly by expediting the economic integration. Prime Minister Hailemariam was accompanied by Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Ato Sofian Ahmed, Minister of Transport, Ato Workineh Gebeyehu, Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy, Ato Alemayehu Tegenu and State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Berhane Gebre-Christos and senior government officials. They held the discussions with President Omar Guelleh at the presidential palace.

Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn praised the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation. He said he is “delighted to come to Djibouti and especially on such occasion- to further lift and cement the all rounded, multidimensional, relationship between our two countries.” He further noted that the High Level Commission will offer another opportunity for deepening and expanding the scope of the cooperation on regional, continental and global issues. Speaking on the growing developmental efforts of the two countries, he said, Ethiopia and Djibouti are “surfing in the same boat.”

The Premier praised the Government of Djibouti for its role in the efforts made at solving regional challenges. He particularly hailed the Government of Djibouti for “the very important role it has been playing to bring peace and stability to Somalia and to the South Sudan within the IGAD framework.” He further explained that Ethiopia is ready to redouble its effort to help the south Sudanese political actors reach a negotiated peaceful settlement. He also expressed that the support to Somali brothers and sisters would continue in their effort to bring sustainable peace and stability.
Prime Minister Hailemariam praised the Joint Ministerial Commission for its accomplishments since its establishment and for its role in enhancing the political, military and economic relations between the two countries. He underlined the importance of strengthening people to people relations between the two countries. He also underlined the need to explore other potential areas of cooperation to expedite the process of full economic integration not only between the two countries but also in realizing the vision of IGAD in integrating the sub-region.

President Ismail Omar Guelleh for his part expressed that “this visit of Prime Minister Hailemariam to Djibouti marks a milestone in the relationship between the two countries.” He said “Djibouti and Ethiopia are strong, strategic partners” adding that the peoples of the two countries share the same values, culture and economic vision. President Omar Guelleh said “Our successes as economically, politically and socially rich nations are dependent on each other and we will use this visit to continue to identify ways to integrate and to grow our economies to create prosperity and security in East Africa.”

Source: MFA

Prime Minister Hailemariam and President El-Sisi held discussions on the sidelines of the 24th AU Summit. On the occasion, President El-Sisi noted that Egypt recognizes Ethiopia’s sovereign right to utilize the Nile Waters. The two side’s discussions focused on ways to further promote the bilateral cooperation of the two countries. According to Ato Getachew Reda, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister, the two leaders held productive discussions in promoting trade, investment, education and other areas of cooperation between the two countries. Prime Minister Hailemariam underlined Ethiopia’s commitment to expand trade ties and learn from the experience of Egypt in promotion of trade and investment. According to Ato Getachew Reda, Prime Minister Hailemariam noted that Ethiopia understands Egypt’s interest in the utilization of the Nile Waters stressing that the development of Ethiopia is undertaking centers on the principle of mutual benefit and based on accepted norms of international water law. Ato Getachew also noted that President El-Sisi expressed his belief that Ethiopia’s development of the Nile Waters takes in to consideration of Egypt. The two sides also agreed on the need to work closely in correcting the wrong messages spread by some Egyptian politicians and journalists with regard to the utilization of the Nile Waters. The two leaders had met in Malabo and New York in 2014 and agreed on promoting dialogue to narrow differences with regard to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which in turn resulted in the resumption of the tri-partite technical teams between Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt.

Addis Ababa, 3 February 2015 (WIC) – Ethiopia has been showing strong engagement in agriculture and infrastructure development, the issues incorporated in Africa’s Agenda 2063, AU Commissioners said.The commissioners stated that the country is showing good progress in the two sectors included in the agenda.

Rural Development and Agriculture Commissioner, Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, said in order to eradicate poverty, the continent has prepared a comprehensive agricultural development program that would help it eradicate famine and reduce poverty. Ethiopia is among the few countries that met the goals of the program by allocating 10 percent of its budget, exceeding the 6 percent proposed for agricultural growth in the agenda, she added. According to the commissioner, Ethiopia has also shown good performance in agricultural research technologies, marketing network, and extension.

Infrastructure and Energy Commissioner, Dr. El Ham M.A Ibrahim, said on his part the country has been undertaking encouraging work by creating comprehensive infrastructural network in the continent. Its decision to make use of the support the commission has been extending to countries developing renewable energy shows the attention it has given to the sector, according to the commissioner. Its activities to realize the integration of the continent in infrastructure development through railway and the determination to implement the Yamasakoru declaration with respect to creating free flight routes to continental airlines is admirable, Dr. El Ham M.A Ibrahim stated. (ENA)

Foreign Minister Dr. Tedros Adhanom met Mr. Bert Koenders, Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, on the margins of the 24th Assembly of the Heads of State and Government at the headquarters of the African Union today (January 31). The two sides exchanged views on bilateral and regional matters. Dr. Tedros underlined the need to encourage trade and investment and build on the growing Netherlands’ investments in Ethiopia especially in the area of floriculture and horticulture. Mr. Koenders said Ethiopia’s fast and equitable economic growth provided important lessons in balancing growth and equitable development. He said the Netherlands appreciated Ethiopia’s significant contributions to UN and AU peacekeeping missions and noted his country’s desire to work with Ethiopia and Africa in peacekeeping. They also discussed AMISOM’s contribution to Somalia and the Netherlands contribution in helping resolve the Mali crisis. Dr. Tedros highlighted Ethiopia’s firm commitment to support peace and security in the region, with the example of the role being played by Ethiopia forces in Abyei, in South Sudan and in Somalia. He noted that Ethiopia is hosting more than 600,000 refugees from neighboring countries making it one of the leading refugee-hosting countries in the world. Mr. Koenders hailed Ethiopia’s open door policy in hosting refugees and expressed the desire to work closely with Ethiopia. Dr. Tedros welcomed the growing bilateral relations between the two countries and thanked Netherland for its support to Ethiopia’s development efforts. He appreciated Netherlands interest in working with Ethiopia in issues of migration and refugees.