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Continental Free Trade Area to Go Active in July

May 4 , 2019


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The African Continental Free Trade Area, which aims to create a single continental market for goods and services, will officially enter into force in July. It is expected to start during the next Extra-Ordinary Heads of State and Government summit slated for July 7, 2019 in Niamey, Niger. Ethiopia is one of the signatories of the agreement with South Africa and Egypt; while Nigeria, which has Africa’s biggest economy, has not ratified the convention yet. The Agreement is expected to create a market for over one billion people with a GDP of approximately 2.6 trillion dollars. The African ministers of Trade are also scheduled to meet in Kampala, Uganda in the first week of June to review work on the supporting instruments ahead of the summit.


Radar

Customs Commission Puts Government Transactions on Mesob

Public institutions must now process customs-related transactions through Mesob, a new electronic platform introduced to reduce manual procedures in government trade operations. The Customs Commission has directed the institutions to use the platform for customs clearance, transit processing, import and export procedures, transaction verification, and related services. Mesob became operational for public institutions on July 20, 2026, for customs services. Institutions must complete intern...


Radar

Addis Grants Extra Month for Residential Lease Renewals

Landlords and tenants in Addis Abeba have an extra month to renew residential lease agreements after the City Administration extended the registration deadline from August 6 to September 5, 2026. The Addis Abeba Housing Development & Administration Bureau attributed the extension to public requests for more time. Officials said it would ease congestion at registration centres and allow residents to complete the process more conveniently. The renewal exercise began in early July, follow...


Radar

Government Procurement Goes Digital with 597b Br Turnover

More than 597 billion Br in government purchases passed through Ethiopia's electronic procurement platform during the 2025-2026 fiscal year, widening the use of digital systems in public finance. The platform was used by 172 federal institutions and 196 affiliated entities during the year. More than 135,000 suppliers were registered to provide goods and services through the system, which is intended to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in public procurement. The governmen...