ImportWho can import to Ethiopia? According to Regulations No. 84/2003 or 84/1995 EC and its amendment 146/2008 or 146/2000 EC, (Download) Import trade (excluding LPG, bitumen and up on the approval of the Council of Ministers) in Ethiopia is exclusively reserved for domestic investors (According to the investment Proclamation, a Domestic investor is an Ethiopian or a foreign national permanently residing in Ethiopia having made an investment, and includes the Government, public enterprises as well as a foreign national, Ethiopian by birth and preferring treatment as a domestic investor).
Ethiopia imports a wide range of goods: from heavy machinery and steel to chewing gum. A large number of Ethiopian businesses are engaged in import activities. Even though the growing manufacturing industries will provide substitutes for some goods, Ethiopia will very likely continue to import most of the goods it's importing now. Participating in the import trade in Ethiopia may be a good idea for a domestic trader; a foreign exporter also can make use of the growing import to Ethiopia and sell its goods to Ethiopian Importers. Construction machinery and vehicles, steel, chemicals, and recently cement are goods that are imported to Ethiopia in huge quantities.
2merkato provides a list of Ethiopian importers in different sectors on its Business Directory Page. Therefore, foreign companies that are interested to do business with Ethiopian Importers can communicate via the business directory; those who wish to find agents or representatives to their products in Ethiopia, you can communicate via the Agencies Section in our business directory.
Import Regulations, Import Procedures and a list of most imported goods to Ethiopia are provided on the website.
Under Import Regulations, you can find the foreign currency directive so that you could understand the rules that specify how an importer can secure the foreign currency needed; you can see if there is import ban or quantitative import restrictions on certain goods.
On Import Procedures page, you can see details of the Pre-shipment Inspection required for imports from China, procedures to avail foreign currency for import and documents needed, mode of payment allowed for imports, documents needed to effect import payment.
The page on most imported goods to Ethiopia has a brief list of the most imported goods to Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Ministry of Trade is the government organ responsible for trade related activities in Ethiopia. It's located in Addis Ababa near Hilton Hotel on the way to Kazancis to Filwuha. It is a must place to visit for those who're planning to be involved in business in general and import trade in particular.
Its full address is:
Ministry of Trade,
Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Phone: +251 11 5518025-29,
Fax: +251 11 5515411/5514288
