MSMEs Set to Export to China via Alibaba

May 23 , 2021


[ssba-buttons]

The Ministry of Trade & Industry, in collaboration with Alibaba and the United Nations's Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), has kicked off a pilot programme wherein it trains micro, small and medium enterprises to facilitate the export of their products to China via Alibaba's e-commerce platform. The programme targets producers and merchants invested in the leather products, textile and garment, processed coffee, and opal industries. These sectors were chosen based on consideration of perishability and relevance in China's market. Applicants are required to have proven technical and financial capacity to produce products suitable in quality and quantity for the Chinese market. The application was opened for ten days on April 14, 2021, and applicants will be evaluated by a committee. With the implementation of the project, the Ministry aims to identify gaps in e-commerce trading and identify policy adjustment that might be needed.


Radar

New Directive Hikes Service Fees for Foreign Investors in Free Trade Zones

The Ethiopian Investment Board has issued a new directive revising the service fees from foreign investors payable in dollars to the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), introducing updated rates for both the One Stop Shop and designated Free Trade Zones. The revised directive came into effect this April following its publication on the websites of the Ministry of Justice and the EIC. Issued pursuant to Article 23 of the Special Economic Zone Proclamation, the directive outlines charges for...


Radar

City Tables 350B Br Budget Plan for Upcoming Fiscal Year

The City Administration has approved a resolution to submit a proposed budget of 350 billion Br for the 2025/26 fiscal year to the City Council for deliberation. According to the Administration's statement on its official social media page, the draft budget is designed with a central focus on poverty reduction, encompassing targeted subsidies for sustainable development, investment in large-scale job-creating projects, and enhanced service delivery to address the growing demands of the reside...


Radar

Ethiopia, UN Launch Joint Plan to Drive Development Through 2030

The Ethiopian government and the United Nations (UN) have signed a five-year development plan outlining national priorities from 2025 to 2030. Signed on June 20 at the Ministry of Finance, the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) with implications that it aligns with Ethiopia's reform goals and the Sustainable Development Agenda. The plan is backed by a projected 6.5 billion dollars, though only 1.5 billion dollars is currently secured. It focuses on closing t...