Nov 19 , 2022
Spices, oilseeds and pulse exporters brought a little over half a billion dollars last year, data from the central bank disclosed. The amount represents one-fourth of the total revenues Ethiopia generated from exported items but dropped by eight percent from the previous year's earnings. It was encouraging to see the performance considering domestic and global economic challenges, according to Geberemeskel Chala, minister of Trade & Regional Integration (MoTRI). But he found the country's earnings from exports lower than its endowments. "To overcome the challenges and improve export earnings, the government has formulated an export promotion strategy which enhances agricultural product quality, promoting market destinations and competitiveness," said the Minister. It was a voice echoed by President Sahelework Zewde. "Exporters should expand new market destinations to increase the forex generated from the spices, grains and oil seeds," she said, opening an international conference on pulses and oilseeds held last week at Sheraton Addis. "Ethiopia is working to increase the production and productivity of the sector, allocating a large budget to support medium and large businesses related to oilseed, pulse and spice export."