The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is holding a Study Progress Report workshop from December 7 to 8, 2015 in Addis Ababa, to facilitate bilateral fish trade negotiations between Ethiopia and Djibouti.

The press release of IGAD states that the Trade Agreement Protocol Report is a result of background study that was commissioned to carry out a preliminary assessment and draft report on the state of fish trade between Ethiopia and Djibouti.

The progress review workshop targets at the review of fish trade between the two countries, obtain an overview of trade in IGAD Member States, share experiences and agree on the necessary facilitation to boost fish trade between Ethiopia and Djibouti and other IGAD member States.

A lot of preliminary studies have been undertaken in advance of engaging in trade negotiations including assessment of the state of fish trade potential between Ethiopia and Djibouti, obstacles to trade, determination of roles and responsibilities, guiding principles and the necessary facilitation.

Instrumental stakeholders who were at the preliminary study to decide the nature and modalities of implementing trade facilitation between the two countries are attending the workshop.

It was also learnt that higher officials from various ministries, organizations and departments from Ethiopia and Djibouti are attending the workshop.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency