Cyber Ethiopia

Participants at the two-day workshop organized by the Chemical Society of Ethiopia in collaboration with the Ethiopian Export Promotion Agency and the Ethiopian Manufacturing Industries Association under the motto of ‘Let us Enhance Industrial Competitiveness’ highlighted that upgrading industrial competitiveness is a must to increase the country's import-export substitution and cope up with challenges facing the sector. In his opening address to the large gathering of participants comprising the civil society, business community, scholars as well as policy makers among others, Fantaye Biftu, State Minister of Ministry of Trade and Industry said that "in order to do away with the limited diversity of the country's import-export substitution, to bring about a predictable macro-economic development and to effectively utilize the ever growing globalization trade orders, a country

must increase its industrial competitiveness and accept the role that could be played by the wide spectrum of different organizations most importantly by the private sector." Fantaye further pointed out that establishing a close relation between the government and the private sector and looking after problems against the development of industries harmoniously would facilitate the industrial development. Hence a successful internal and external trade amount that can be characterized by a significant import-export substitution. Presenting his paper titled 'The Challenges and Prospects of Export Development in Ethiopia,' Solomon Kebede, Trade Point Director, Ethiopian Export Promotion Agency, said as a result of the heavy reliance of the sector on a few primary commodities, Ethiopia’s export base continues to be narrow and fragile. "Consequently, the country's foreign currency earnings from merchandise exports covered, on average only 42% of its import bill and the country's trade deficit or showing a rising trend," Solomon said. Therefore, according to him, Ethiopia currently needs to significantly develop in export sector, which means diversification of products offered for export, improving their quality, ensuring regularity of their supply, and staying competitive in the international market. "This, however, requires significant efforts and resources, given the numerous constraints inhibiting export expansion and diversification. The private sector is envisaged to play the leading role in this endeavor." For this to happen as well, participants and presenters of the workshop agreed that upgrading industrial development is of vital value. Seventeen study papers were presented at the workshop of which issues of the role of higher learning institutes and research institutes and the role of mass media towards enhancement of industrialization in Ethiopia as well as the impact of tax system and impact of Ethiopian customs performance and contraband in Ethiopia on industrialization process were some of them. Scholars and private businesses have presented the study papers and shared their experiences with the participants.