Gov’t set to focus on enhancing capacity of investors engaged in foreign trade: Ministry

Addis Ababa, August 3 (WIC)-Industry Minister Mekonnen Manyazewal said government will focus on enhancing the capacity of investors with a view to boosting quality of export items and foreign earnings.

The Ethiopian Development Research Institute, the Ministry and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) co-organized on Thursday a half day consultative forum on industrial development in Ethiopia.

On the occasion, the Minister Mekonnen said government has prioritized developing the competence of export produce and building the capacity of domestic producers.

He said government would extend incentive and support to boots quality of export items.

According to the Ministry of Trade, nation has secured over 3.1 billion US dollars form foreign trade in the just concluded Ethiopian fiscal year.

The ministry said it will provide coordinated support and intensively promote the export trade.

Japanese Ambassador in Ethiopia Hiroyuki Kichino on his part said incompetence to produce value-added goods, higher cost of transportation , lack of intensive promotion are the major hurdles of Ethiopian export trade.

He said enhanced quality of exported items would help enjoy the global market. According to him, his country is interested to share its export best experiences to Ethiopia.

JICA representative on his part said intensive promotion and participation in international trade fair is essential to access the world market widely.