2merkato

The Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority (ERCA) is to set up an inspection laboratory for tariff classification of imports. The lab will help determine the tariff classifications of imports on the basis of their material and chemical composition.

The inspection laboratory is a recommendation from the Dutch Customs Authority (DCA) and the World Customs Organization (WCO). The two agencies were invited to evaluate existing tariff classifications and recommend possible changes by ERCA. The contract was sponsored by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA).

The World Bank has granted 11 million birr to facilitate an investigation into the national revenue potential of Ethiopia. The study was commissioned by the Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority (ERCA).

The study will assess the revenue productivity of each tax, identify gaps in the law and how to address them as well as widening the tax base on the national level. It will be part of the tax reform instituted by the government to generate mechanisms of increasing the tax-GDP ratio.

Pittards has announced plans to venture into sheep farming in Ethiopia. The UK-based leather and leather products manufacturing company is looking to move into the supply side of the business according to John Moriarty, Managing Director of Pittards Ethiopia Tannery.

The company has looked at a 10,000 hectare plot of land in the North Shoa region said Moriarty.

Karuturi Agro Products Plc said that Indian farmers were only hired as consultants, denying claims that it had sub-leased land.
Indian farmers have been hired to consult on specialty crops such as cotton said Birinder Singh Executive Director of Karuturi.

Invitations for consultancy were extended to everyone including Ethiopian agriculture experts and not just to Indians according to Mr. Singh.  

The Karuturi project in Ethiopia is an international effort, stresses the executive director.