Gov’t providing support to enhance competitiveness in global market: MoTRI

Addis Ababa, November 21, 2023 (FBC) – The Government of Ethiopia has been providing infrastructure and policy support in order to promote trade investment and enhance competitiveness in the global market, according to Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration.

The 12th International Conference on Pulses and Oilseeds kicked off in Addis Ababa today.

The main objective of the conference, according to ENA, is to discuss the current global trade patterns of the sector and enhance trade relations among stakeholders.

Opening the conference, Trade and Regional Integration Minister Gebremeskel Challa said Ethiopia has a climate suitable for the production of agricultural products, including pulses, and oilseeds that are produced in considerable quantity and quality.

According to him, the ministry has been striving to improve export earnings, and create conducive policy environment,

From the total national export value earning in 2022/23, the share of pulse and oilseed accounted for 571.44 million USD, he added.

The international market system requires competitiveness in all aspects of what we offer to sell, the minister noted, stating that time is one of the components of efficiency and competition.

“With the view to increasing customer satisfaction, my ministry has successfully designed electronic registration, licensing, and renewal, automated fuel supply chain management system, online contract administration of export products, etc.,” Gebremeskel said.

These new paradigm shifts to digital systems are the result of policy commitment and priority in improving the business environment so as to make the private sector competitive.

“We are open to entertain evidence-based policy feedback and recommendations for our efforts in policy revision. In this regard, Ethiopian Pulses, Oilseeds, and Spices Processors Exporters Association (EPOSPEA) has been one of our strong partners in providing policy inputs and persistently advocating for an improved business environment in our ministry.”

The minister, who stated that the international trade conference is an important event, expressed his hope that the business conference will help partners exchange best practices and new business know-how.

It also contributes significantly to the government effort in strengthening regional economic cooperation among states in the Horn of Africa and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfcFTA).

Ethiopian Pulses, Oilseeds, and Spices Processors Exporters Association President, Sisay Asmare said the sector is full of competition and risk to climb up in the global supply chain

We, therefore, have to be vigilant as individuals and as a country.

But we have good weather, soil, manpower and location to the big international markets. This gives us competitive advantage to win international competition, the president noted.

“What is expected from us is to untap the potential. (And) this conference is one of the important opportunities to utilize, so as to shine in the international market,” he stressed.