2merkato

Ethiopia has secured 133.7 million USD from the export of horticultural crops in the last seven months, the Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency (EHDA) said.
Agency Director General Haileselassie Tekie said that the country earned the foreign currency from the export of 1.1 billion flower stems and 72.8 thousand tons of fruits, vegetables and herbs in the last seven months (From July 2011-Jan. 2012).

More than 107.5 million USD was obtained from the export of flowers to the international market, while the balance was secured from the sale of fruits, vegetables and herbs.  

The foreign currency the country earned from the sector in the stated period has increased by 22.7 millions USD in revenue compared to last year same period.
The Netherlands, Germany, England, Belgium, Russia, Japan and Middle East counties are among the major recipients of the products.

The demand for the horticultural products’ of Ethiopia is very high and thus the Agency is doing market promotion and diversification activities.   

Incentives and the necessary support are being provided by the government of Ethiopia, the number of foreign and local investors engaged in the sector is on the increase, the Director General said.

Ethiopia has recently started to export organic banana to Saudi Arabia market, which the project is supported by Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), is an important step to ensure the growth of horticulture industry in the country.

More than 105 horticulture producer and exporters companies are operating in the country, of which over 70 per cent of them are foreign and joint venture, it was learnt.

Source: This news article was prepared and sent to 2merkato.com by Mekonnen Hailu, Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency (EHDA)'s senior communication expert.

The National Accreditation Office of Ethiopia is ready to raise awareness in the agricultural, health and industrial sectors according to Araya Fesseha Director General of the ENAO.

Accreditation is a new concept in Ethiopia and requires aggressive promotion to raise awareness amongst stakeholders he said.

The accreditation office has conducted training events in Addis Ababa, and the Amahra and Tigray regional states said Araya. Further training will be done in Dire Dawa, Oromia, and the South regional state.

Total Ethiopia Managing Director Antoine Tourand has been replaced by Marc De Lataillade, after a two and half year term.

Lataillade comes to Ethiopia with 17 years of experience with Total, with his last position being executive vice president for Total World Group, West Africa.

Tournand inaugurated the new and modern Total station at Ayat Village before leaving his position in Ethiopia.

Ethiopian Airlines, Ethiopia’s flag carrier, made a firm order for five Q400 NextGen Bombardier aircraft confirmed Bombardier Aerospace.

Three of the five airplanes are to be operated by Ethiopian Airlines affiliate ASKY, the Togolese airlines, while the other two will remain with Ethiopian.

According to the list price of the Q400 bombardier aircraft the purchase is estimated at a total of 160 million US dollars.