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ETHIOPIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND SECTORAL ASSOCIATIONS (ECCSA) Latest News

Forum said to further deepen Countries Existing Ties

Ethiopia-Turkey Business and Investment Forum was organized by the Ethiopian Chamber

of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) in Partnership with Ethiopian Ministry

of Industry (MoT) and Turkish Ministry of Economy (TMoE) on December 28, 2016 at

Sheraton Addis Hotel.

The aim of the forum is stated to further deepen the already existing ties in trade and

investment of the two countries.

On the forum, presentations on Ethiopian investment opportunities and business to

business session were conducted.

Parallel to this forum, Ethio-Turkish Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical

Cooperation (JEC) has also been conducted at the ministerial level in order to evaluate the

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recent economic developments and review the overall economic, technical and cultural

relations as well as to further enhance cooperation of the two countries in those fields.

Over 100 Turkish business delegates, Ethiopian high government officials and

representatives from various Ethiopian private sectors have participated on the event.

MoI Delivers Commendation

The Ministry of Industry (MoI) officially sent its compliment to Ato Solomon Afework,

President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA), for

his invaluable contribution as member of Public Private Sector Synchronizing Committee

(PPSC) in the endeavor to create a competitive private sector in the country. The

commendation was delivered in a letter written in Ref No. 02.34/66 as of 11th of

November 2016.

MoI delivered the commendation to Ato Solomon following the highest score “A” the

Ethiopian Competitiveness Facility (ECF) was given by the Department for International

Development (DID) after conducting its annual general project performance evaluation,

the letter illustrates.

ECF was granted DID‟s recognition because ECF has been providing a capacity building

activities through a project funded by the government of UK to export trade manufacturers,

to institutions supporting such manufacturers, to chambers of commerce and sectoral

associations and to import substituting manufacturers on the topics: leadership

management, manufacturing technology, product quality and inspection, and marketing,

among others.

As explained in the letter, President of ECCSA deserved the commendation because MoI

believed that the success of ECF became achievable due to the commitment and his close

leadership in PPSC.

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ECCSA assumes CBC Board of Directorship

The Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) was designated

for the position of the 3rd COMESA Business Council (CBC) Board of Directorship for

the next two-year-term (December 2016-December 2018). The election was made in the

6th General Assembly of CBC conducted from 24th – 25th of November 2016 in Lusaka,

Zambia.

ECCSA was assumed for the position as CBC member of Board of Directorship

considering its commitment and achievements in the Deputy Presidential position in CBC,

in which President of ECCSA, Ato Solomon Afework was Deputy President of CBC in the

terminating term.

9th Trade Fair Said to Enhance Competitiveness of Local Products

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Ato Solomon Afework stated his Chamber strives to foster domestic manufacturing

industry at a national level through the promotion of local production at international

standard. The President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations

(ECCSA) said this on the opening ceremony of the 9th Ethio-Chamber International Trade

Fair organized by the Chamber from November 10-14, 2016 at Addis Ababa Exhibition

Center.

In the International Trade Fair organized under the motto: “Buy Ethiopian”, including

Minister of Trade Dr. Bekele Bulado, various government officials, members of the Board

of Directors of the ECCSA, Ambassadors and members of the diplomatic community,

domestic and foreign companies from different countries, development partners and

stakeholders participated.

The 9th International Trade Fair is mainly aimed at promoting Ethiopian products (goods),

services, and industrial inputs to enhance competitiveness of the local industries and

attracting investment.

As Dr. Bekele Bulado, Minister of Trade, pointed out that since there is no dynamic

economy that can stay aloof from global market competition, industries are urged to devise

strategies pertinent to the global market conditions.

In order to accomplish what is expected, said the Minister, value adding private sector is

considered to be the engine of the growth. The Minister expressed his confidence that the

private sector will catapult its share on the ongoing development efforts of the nation and

the government of Ethiopia will continue supporting the private sector.

As the nation‟s economic policy is making a paradigm shift towards an industrial led

economy from an agrarian one; enhancing the capacity of domestic market and

competitiveness of local manufacturing firms would be vital to ensure sustainability of the

country‟s annual economic growth, the Minister said.

Ethiopia‟s manufacturing industry is one of the weakest organs of its economy suffering

from a critical competitiveness problem, President of ECCSA said. Supporting his idea, he

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said that even if the country is endowed with affluent ecological zones that yield

multitudes of agricultural products like coffee and sesame, Ethiopia still remains to be little

more than invisible in the list of major global coffee exporters although it is the birth place

of Coffee.

According to his explanation, he feels proud to say that the „Buy Ethiopian‟ motto of the

Ethio-Chamber International Trade Fair holds a noble motive of building the country‟s

image; urging attitudinal changes towards local products and services.

The Secretary General of ECCSA, Ato Endalkachew Sime, on his part said that Ethio-

Chamber International Trade Fair is an instrument of facilitating better interaction of

participants to visualize knowledge and skill transfer as well as other business

arrangements like joint venture.

The „Buy Ethiopian‟ motto has targeted not only in promoting Ethiopian products to the

global market, it is also essentially linked with strengthening capacity of local markets.

On the occasion that stays for five consecutive days, apart from the 110 local and 50

foreign companies showcasing their products, new innovations of local institutions that

have got intellectual property right displayed their products in order to enter into the

investment arena and have market networking.

So far, ECCSA has been organizing successfully eight international trade fairs annually in

Addis Ababa which have brought significant contribution in promoting the country‟s

goods and services and scaling up competitiveness of local industries.

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Robust Private Sector Said to Drive FDI

“Domestic industry should be promoted”, Prof. Fisseha-Tsion Mengistu

“Effectiveness of attracting FDI asks the making of the local private sector

successful”, Endalkachew Sime, GS, ECCSA.

The Department of Management, College of Business and Economics (CBE) of the Addis

Ababa University organized its 13th

panel discussion on the theme: “The Prospects and

Challenges of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for the Transformation of Ethiopia” on

20th of October, 2016 at Eshetu Chole Hall , CBE, AAU.

In the panel discussion which was said to be the continuation of the Executive Idea

Exchange Forum (EIEF) series, high level government officials, prominent business

executives and owners, scholars, and development partners as well as the Executive MBA

students participated.

The panel was aimed at looking into the degree of the ins and outs of the implementation

of FDI and the challenges faced. It also touched upon the prospective nature of the FDI in

respect of the national socio economic outcomes it may produce.

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Professor Fisseha-Tsion Mengistu, who presented a paper under the theme

abovementioned argue that FDI played a minor role in the country‟s development.

According to his words, the government had to take action to revising the FDI policy to

make sure that maximum socio economic and technological benefits would be provided to

the majority of the people. Much effort should rather be made on the development of

domestic industry, he underlined.

The panelists, who, representing different institutions-the government, the private sector

and the development partners, gathered together around a table, reflected their respective

argument to the topic.

Ato Fitsum Arega, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC),

representing on the government side expressed the importance of FDI as a non-debatable

and stated that it has been playing a critical role in the national development endeavors,

revealing the poverty reduction as one indicator.

The government of Ethiopia also provides good investment opportunity such as tax and

labor incentives and is building industrial parks with all the necessary accessories such as

power and infrastructure which is attracting the FDI in a large number, the Commissioner

added.

Ato Endalkachew Sime, General Secretary of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and

Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) pointed out that Ethiopian economy is almost a public

driven and works need to be done to establish the FDI on the basis of such an economic

growth. According to him, the effectiveness of attracting more FDI asks the making of the

ones operating internally successful. In order to make this, he suggests the need to have a

dynamic private sector without which the local private sector cannot sustain.

It was also discussed in detail that the Ethiopian economy needs to maximize the benefit of

the FDI to the development of MSEs and creation of market access. FDI was also taken as

the transfer of knowledge and technology.

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There was a suggestion that although tax and other incentives can play an important role in

attracting FDI, the identification of investment sectors can play a paramount importance in

bringing a better economy.

The Department of Management of the CBE has so far made the Executive Idea Exchange

Forum on December 20, 2012 which is expected to foster university and industry linkage

and complements the department‟s Executive MBA program and promotes management

excellence in the country, evidences show.

Studies Indicate Africa should Work over Sustainable Manufacturing

A business conference under the theme: “Sustainable Manufacturing Matters for

Ethiopia and Africa” was held for day long on 18th of October 2016 at Sheraton Addis

Hotel.

On the event in which government officials, representatives of the Pan African Chambers

of Commerce and Industry (PACCI), regional and city chambers in Ethiopia, business

communities from Ethiopia and various African countries and development partners

gathered together, H.E. Dr. Mulatu Teshome, President of FDRE delivered a keynote

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speech reflecting the position of Ethiopian government in respect of realizing a sustainable

manufacturing in the country.

According to his words, the conference is a timely and significant as Ethiopia is fast

moving to enter into the manufacturing realm.

The government of Ethiopia, Dr. Mulatu states, recognizes that addressing the

manufacturing sector along with the innovation of modern technologies and agriculture is

an up to date issue for the sustainability of the national development.

The President emphasized the fact that as the world, this days, stand at the brink of the

fourth industrial revolution and both Africa and Ethiopia need to focus on investing in the

infrastructure and on the productive human power in the form of education so as to be part

of the globally growing technology.

Noting that Ethiopia has not made significant progress in transforming the labor force

available in the agricultural sector to the industrial one, State Minister of Industry, Ato

Tadesse Haile, said that investing on the labor force, actively working on knowledge

transfer and experience sharing activities on the manufacturing sector should be the

primary concern of the government of Ethiopia.

It is also noted that Ethiopia is implementing an ambitious Industrial Park program in its

effort to accelerate manufacturing growth. The industrial zones are said to be important

components, along with such improved business-friendly policies of attracting investment

to the manufacturing sector.

Ato Kebour Ghenna, Executive Director of PACCI, on his part said that since

manufacturing drives productivity and provides jobs with better wages and benefits; it

should be the bedrocks and the engine of Africa‟s economy.

However, the Executive Director of PACCI states that African manufacturers, like

manufacturers all over the world, face different challenges such as deflationary prices-the

rising costs of regulations, energy, high tariffs; the burden of bureaucracy and the lack of

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basic and reliable infrastructure; trade barriers that slacken the expansion of cross border or

intra-Africa trade; and the ill training of Africa‟s future work force that need to be well

addressed.

Ato Solomon Afework, President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral

Associations (ECCSA) also expressed his views about the ongoing manufacturing trend of

Africa and Ethiopia. According to his words, Africa contributes only the least level of the

world‟s total manufacturing output, which, according to him, requires the commitment of

the governments of African countries to encourage and work with the private sectors of

their respective countries.

On the event, Ministers and other senior government officials, development partners and

business representatives provided presentation on various topics on which an in-depth

deliberation was entertained.

From the deliberation, the idea that Africa should primarily work on education and on the

expansion of the SMEs in order to achieve sustainable manufacturing has been given great

concern.

Many believe that the importance of developing a skilled labor force and improving the

investment climate in Ethiopia are among the key areas that will support its quest of

becoming a manufacturing powerhouse. The deliberation has finally revolved around the

fact that working over sustainable manufacturing should be the means of achieving the

economic development of both Africa and Ethiopia.

The conference was organized by ECCSA in collaboration with PACCI.

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Members Discussed on Demand Survey

A validation Workshop on the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations

(ECCSA) Demand Survey Draft Report was conducted on September 5, 2016.

Representatives of the 18 Chamber members and stockholders attended the workshop at

ECCSA Board Room and deliberated on the report for validation.

The main objectives of the project is to provide evidence based report which will directly

increase the knowledge and understanding of ECCSA, the Hub and stakeholders including

SIDA on the nature of private sector demand for Business Membership Organizations

(BMOs) service as well as to identify and analyze the capacity and competency of ECCSA

BMO members to develop, manage and deliver those services.

The aim of the workshop is to gather feedback from the attendees and enrich the findings

of the study that focuses on a final implementation phase.

The project is conducted by the Private Sectors Development (PSD) Hub of ECCSA under

the support of Sida.

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Validation Workshop Held for the Sustainability of CA

A validation workshop entitled: Past Performance and Sustainability Plan Study was

organized by Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) and

hosted by the Chamber Academy (CA) on 1st September, 2016 at Ellily International

Hotel, Addis Ababa.

The draft document was presented on the workshop by the consultancy in charge. The

workshop is aimed at collecting relevant inputs from the participants through discussion so

as to enrich the draft into final document of the study.

It is said that the objective of the study is to assess the past performance and impacts of the

Chamber Academy in terms of its establishment missions and develop its sustainability

plan which includes marketing and strategies.

In his opening remarks, Ato Endalikachew Sime, Secretary General of ECCSA said that

ECCSA expected open, detailed and constructive inputs from the participants on the

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validation workshop for the finalization of the study which is intended to bring

sustainability technically and financially.

On the validation workshop, open discussions have been conducted among the

participants, ECCSA‟s Management, and the presenters, meanwhile constructive feedbacks

have been forwarded as well.

It is known that the Chamber Academy was established with the aim of strengthening the

leadership and management skills of the Ethiopian Business Membership Organizations

(BMOs) through capacity cooperation and networking, building the institutional capacity

through association certification program by technical and financial support of Center for

International Private Enterprises (CIPE).

Ethio-China Cooperation Said a New Beginning of Deepening Relation

Ethiopia hosted the “Ethiopia-China (Guangdong) Economic and Trade Cooperation

Conference” on 1st of September 2016 at Addis Ababa Hilton Hotel on which senior

government officials and business communities of the two sisterly countries attended. The

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Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Associations (ECCSA) has organized the

forum along with Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province.

The conference aimed at further deepening the bilateral trade and investment relation of

Ethiopia and China through the formation of economic and trade cooperation with the

Guangdong province of China.

According to a statement by Dr. Arkebe Ekubay, with the Rank of Minister, Special

Advisor to the Prime Minister, today, China is a manufacturing power house and Ethiopia

is currently shifting the development gear to manufacturing led economy giving priority to

light manufacturing, which is a very good bridge to work with China, such kind of

business cooperation is given due consideration by the government of Ethiopia.

Citing the construction of the Great Renaissance Dam and other energy development

activities, the development of industrial parks and the provision of competitive labor which

is trainable but affordable that are available at almost least cost, Dr. Arkebe expressed that

the visit made by the business delegation from the Guangdong province is a timely visit.

China‟s current relation with Africa in general is based on three pillars-the South-south

cooperation, trade bilateral relation and infrastructure which helps for long term

sustainable growth and development of the continent, Dr. Arkebe added.

Recalling that the two countries had reached on a high level cooperation consensus of trade

coordination in 2003, the governor of the Guangdong province, Mr. Zhu Xiaodan said that

the two sides would be able to exploit an important opportunity from this conference. The

governor also expressed the interest of the Guangdong province to engage in the

development of industrial parks and involve in infrastructure, manufacturing, finance,

tourism, animal husbandry, wholesale trade, and more other sectors. Appreciating the

favorable business environment in the country, Mr. Zhu said that the conference marks a

new beginning of deepening the economic and trade cooperation between Ethiopia and

China.

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Ato Solomon Afework, President of ECCSA, on his opening remark said, this conference,

on top of its immense contribution to bring a better economic ties, is perceived by the

Ethiopian private sector as a special event because it creates the opportunity to meet with

innovative Chinese companies that are advanced in infrastructure, manufacturing and

modern technology.

In order for triggering such progressive development, Ato Solomon said, such kinds of

events play a significant role as they are events that bring business community from

various experiences.

As China has been able to achieve over a short period lifting it to the level of second

largest economic power, Ethiopia and other African countries take this as a model national

development from which the local business community are able to experience, Ato

Solomon added.

On the conference, more than one hundred Chinese business companies representing the

fields of manufacturing, finance, tourism, transportation, animal husbandry, fishery,

wholesale trade, e-commerce, information transmission and various other internationally

well-known companies were available.

Finally, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two sides that aims at

promoting the development of trade and economic relations between their respective

communities.

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Training Workshop Held

The Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) in partnership

with COMESA Business Council (CBC) organized the 2nd Local Sourcing for

partnerships Training Workshop from 29th-30th August 2016 at Intercontinental Hotel,

Addis Ababa.

The training workshop is aimed at building the technical capacity of the selected

enterprises and developing sustainable sourcing partnerships between Small and Medium

Enterprises (SMEs) and corporate companies.

In her opening remarks, CBC Chief Executive Officer ,Ms Sandra Uwera said that

Ethiopia‟s top agricultural exports such as Coffee, Oil seeds, vegetables, and animal

products have huge demand within the African market. It is a project like this that

strengthens Small & Medium Enterprises to integrate into regional supply chains of

corporate that are in the local and regional African market, she added. She underscored that

sustainable local sourcing provides a significant opportunity to improve the livelihoods of

small scale producers in Africa.

Ato Biniam Misgina, Director of Trade and Investment Directorate in ECCSA, on his part

stated that the 2014/5-2018/9 strategic plan of the Chamber has been targeted to build the

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capacity of the private sector to be internationally and locally competitive in producing

high quality goods and services so as to attract the customers. He also said: “this plan is

achieved by improving operational efficiency of micro and small enterprises (MSEs),

enhancing firm level competitiveness and compliance to market requirements, and

cultivating business ethics and corporate social responsibility among the business

community.”

According to CBC press release, the Local Sourcing for partnership Project that aimed at

promoting local sourcing by corporate companies from the small growth enterprises in the

agro-processing sector has realized capacity development of 80 SMEs in Ethiopia since its

inception in May 2016.

It is released that the Local Sourcing for Partnership Project is an initiative by the

COMESA Business Council with the support from the Investment Climate Facility for

Africa (ICF), USAID-IPAA and the private sectors which are members of the CBC. It is

also released that the project is designed to build capacity of suppliers from six countries-

Ethiopia, Zambia, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and Malawi in food safety management

systems and standards and to provide a platform for market linkages.

On the training workshop, open dialogues have been conducted between buyers and

suppliers on the challenges they encountered and subsequently core solutions have been

forwarded. Parallel to this workshop which brought the buyers and suppliers together, mini

expo for the local SMEs was also exhibited in the hotel.

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The Two Countries Promised to Step Ahead into Progressive Economic Relation

“Ethio – America economic partnership is way behind, compared to our

century-old diplomatic relations.” Endalkachew Sime, Secretary Gerneral,

ECCSA

“Gov’t of Ethiopia is very open to attract investment, and we want U.S.

Companies to do more here.” Ambassador Tebeje Berhe, FDRE, MoFA,

Director General for American Affairs

“More and more U.S. Companies are looking at Ethiopia because of the

double digit growth rate over the last decades.” Patricia R. Sheikh,

Director of Agribusiness, CCA

A delegation of 13 U.S. Companies headed by Patricia R.Sheikh, Director of Agribusiness

in Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) met with Ethiopian business representatives from

five companies engaged in similar sectors here in Addis at Sheraton Addis Hotel on 18th

of August 2016 and held a B2B program that aimed at creating trade network.

On the B2B session organized by the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial

Associations (ECCSA) in collaboration with the Corporate Council on Africa, in addition

to the Officials of the organizing sectors: Endalkachew Sime, Secretary General of ECCSA

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and Patricia Sheikh, Director of Agribusiness in CCA, Ambassador Tebeje Berhe,

American Affairs Director General in MoFA, Peter H. Vrooman, Deputy Chief of Mission

in U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia, Kanini Mutooni, Director of East African Trade and

Investment Hub and members of the business community from both countries gathered

together, in which the business representatives of the two countries had a very intensive

conversations that may lead them to a further business deal.

Speaking on the program that Ethiopia is a very attractive investment destination in East

Africa, Ambassador Tebeje expressed the interest of the government of Ethiopia that it is

very open to attract investment and wants U.S. Companies to do more in Ethiopia. As

Ethiopia ambitions to be middle income country, the partnership made with CCA and the

business community at large in the U.S. would be given due consideration, Ambassador

Tebeje added.

While addressing on the session, Endalkachew Sime stated that the leadership commitment

of the two countries have begun to step ahead into a progressive form of diplomatic and

economic relation that recognizes a mutual partnership although their economic

partnership was way behind compared to the countries old age diplomatic relations. The

Secretary General confirmed that this high level event, on top of its immense contribution

to bring better economic ties between the business communities of the two countries,

creates the opportunity for the local community to meet with innovative American

companies that are advanced in modern agriculture, ICT, manufacturing and finance.

According to Patricia Sheikh of CCA, the 13 U.S. companies that are represented by the

CCA are looking at Ethiopia because of the double digit growth rate over the last decade

and are very interested to create partnership with the local businesses with emphasis on

agro-processing and meat producing equipment, energy, infrastructure (building bridges

for feeder roads in rural areas), providing legal services for Ethiopian businesses and the

government and financial services.

Explaining that the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia has since 3 years been supporting in opening

markets for U.S. trade and investment, Peter H.Vrooman, Deputy Chief of Mission in U.S.

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Embassy forwarded a statement of encouragement to the Ethiopian companies to network

with the outstanding U.S. companies representatives and build strong partnership. The

Embassy is also working with the government of Ethiopia to engage U.S. companies in

Hawassa Industrial Park.

ECCSA has organized more than about 13 B2Bs and forums in the endeavor to create

partnership between the local businesses and the business communities of other nations

this year.

ECSSA and Agency Agree to Work on Women and Youth Empowerment

On 16 August, 2016, the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Associations

(ECCSA) and the Federal Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (SME)

signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on partnership of cooperation.

On the agreement, the Secretary General of ECCSA, Ato Endalkachew Sime, confirmed

that the accordance is mainly focused on creating the system of motivation and move up

the beneficiary of women. According to the Secretary General, the agreement enables the

two organizations to plan and work together so as to contribute in the realization of the

national development.

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Ato Asfaw Abebe, Director General of the Federal Small and Medium Enterprise

Development Agency, on his part said that cooperatively working with ECCSA helps the

Agency in its endeavor to flourish the private manufacturing sector both in quality and

quantity. Ato Abebe also confirmed that the Agency is committed to implementing the

commonly agreed points.

The Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Associations signed more than 60

MOU‟s so far.

FDRE President Held Discussion with ECCSA Board Members

Dr.Mulatu Teshome, President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, held a

meeting with the Ethiopian chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA‟s)

Board Members and discussed about different issues on 3th August, 2016 at the office of

the President.

Ato Solomon Afework, President of the Ethiopian chamber of Commerce and Sectoral

Associations explained the main discussion points of the minute of the previous meeting

and the core performances of ECCSA regarding trade and promotion, advocacy, capacity

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building and miscellaneous activities performed by the chamber since the last meeting as

per the request of Dr.Mulatu.

It was also stated that different Business to Business meetings and forums have been held

with different countries‟ chamber counterparts to create awareness for the Ethiopian

business communities especially about manufacturing sector and agro processing industry

and strengthening their relationships in Promoting trade and investments.

Ato Endalikachew Sime, Secretary General of ECCSA said that ECCSA has discussed

how the business community is financed in investing in commercial farming and it is also

being prepared for the success of Ethiopian Agro Industry Investment Forum which will be

held in the forthcoming October.

Dr.Mulatu underlined that there is a room to support those investors who are interested to

invest in commercial farming (which leads to industrialization). The President also said

that ECCSA does have the responsibility to comment on proclamations, policy and laws

which need reforms in undertaking the businesses of the community. The request of the

land to build the Chamber‟s Hub should be reviewed, the President recommended.

Finally, Ato Solomon gave thanks to Dr.Mulatu for his consistent support and cooperation

in working with ECCSA.

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Ethiopia Approved as Hottest FDI Attraction

In addition to encouraging and assisting domestic investors to participate in various

business landscapes, the government of Ethiopia is said to promote Foreign Direct

Investment (FDI) as an important destination to the economic growth of the country. This

was said on a forum organized on Foreign Investment Promotion under the title: “Doing

Business in Ethiopia-Opportunity for Foreign Investors” on 28th of July, 2016 at Elilly

Hotel.

On the forum organized by the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial

Associations (ECCSA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry (MoI), high ranking

government officials from various government sectors, diplomats and ambassadors,

representatives of regional and city chambers and business community were gathered

together, in which the diplomats and the ambassadors, with their reflections forwarded,

accepted Ethiopia as becoming hottest attraction to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in

Africa.

While addressing a key note speech, State Minister of Industry, Ato Taddese Haile

provided the explanation that Ethiopia has already commenced the 2nd Growth and

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Transformation Plan which gives priority to the manufacturing sectors that demands

greatly the inflows of the FDI. According to him, since the manufacturing sectors can put a

better ground for achieving a structural transformation in country‟s progressive economy,

the government of Ethiopia focuses on key international investors that are capable of

producing qualitatively export manufacturing products.

Further strengthening this notion, Ato Abebe Abebayehu, Deputy Commissioner of the

Ethiopian Investment Commission, also stated that Ethiopia has a resounding investment

policy and strategy that plays significant role in creating enabling investment condition.

Apart from the political stability that attracts business communities across the world into

the country‟s business landscape, the government of Ethiopia has also been generating

different competitive incentive packages which help attract Foreign Direct Investment, the

Deputy Commissioner added.

One of these strategy, as put by the officials, is the development of industrial parks that the

government have been undertaking in different regions of the country along with the above

mentioned business friendly policy of attracting investment to achieve the GTP.

Ato Solomon Aferork, President of ECCSA, on his part said that, ECCSA as the

representative of the private sector, is playing a significant role in the dynamics of

Ethiopian economy by creating colossal investment opportunities for both local and

foreign investors in key strategic areas, such as agro-processing, mining, tourism,

construction, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, among others, through the provision and

organization of B2Bs, trade fairs and business forums with international business

community within the country and oversea.

During the half day forum, papers were presented in respect of the country‟s progressive

economic development scored within the last couple of decades and what Ethiopia

envisions within the coming decade. As indicated on the presentation, Ethiopia envisions

being a Leading country in light manufacturing sector in Africa aiming to achieve Middle-

Income Status by 2025. During this period, Ethiopia is expected to score a rapid annual

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economic growth of 11%, increase the contribution of industrial sector to GDP: form 15%

in 2015 to 28% by 2025 and manufacturing from 5% in 2015 to 18% in 2025.

ECSSA receives delegation from FICA and Surbana Jurong group

Ato Solomon Afework, President of Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral

Associations (ECCSA) received a delegation from FICA and Surbana Jurong group and

discussed on their project on 20 July, 2016 at his office.

Mrs. Ticha Virginie, President of International Federation of African Consular Chambers

(FICA) stated that FICA has started a kind of collaboration with Surbana Jurong group to

put its projects into practice in Africa specifically in Ethiopia.

Mr. Mohammad Ait Fateh Senior Business Development Manager of Africa on his part

said that their company has been doing full consultancy of urbanization, industrialization,

architectural and project designs, and others in Africa since 2006, and it also plans to

implement the above projects in Ethiopia.

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Ato Solomon expressed ECCSA‟s pleasure for the delegates visit to the right place at the

right time with their important project to do a lot to Ethiopia, for Singapore is one of the

most civilized countries on this planet to share its advancement for others. ECCSA has

been striving to encourage the foreigners with their new experiences and knowledge, and

play a role to pave the way between the private sector and the government to be connected

each other in order to promote trade and investment and sustain the growth of the country

in all aspects, the President added. He recommended the delegation to meet the concerned

government entities and sell the idea of their project.

It is known that Surbana Jurong (SJ) is owned jointly by Temasek & Jurong Town

Corporation and a Singapore grown multi-disciplinary consultancy outfit with capabilities

to deliver total urban, infrastructure and engineering solutions to support social and

economic growth in the realms of Planning, Design, Engineering and City Management.

Today, the merged company employs 4,000 employees in 20 offices across Asia, Africa

and the Middle East.

forum said to further deepen countries existing...

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