2merkato

Ethiopia earned 71.1 million US dollars in revenue from the export of leather and leather products over the last seven months according to the Ministry of Industry.

The revenue raised in the reporting period exceeds that earned in the same period last fiscal year by more than 62% said Melaku Taye, Communications Director with the Ministry.

Ethiopian Horticulture Development Agency (EHDA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with International Saudi Agriculture (ISA) so as to enable the latter exporting organic banana to Saudi Arabia.

While signing the agreement, the Director General of EHDA Haileselassie Tekie said the agreement will enable Ethiopia to secure more than 100 million USD from the export of 60,000 tons of organic banana to Saudi Arabia within six months.

The agreement will benefit up to 30,000 small holder farmers directly or indirectly involved in the cultivation of organic banana by getting a better market price for the product. Besides, the export will create jobs for lots of compatriots in Arba Minch and the nearest localities in the SNNPs.

The Ethiopian Meat and Dairy Technology Institute, is seeking to export meat directly from Ethiopia to China.

Ethiopian meat including all internal organs is currently being exported to China via Vietnam but entering the Chinese market directly will be a significant development said Gedey Gebre Medhin, Director of the institute.

The institute has been dealing with problems associated with delays in the slaughtering process as well as seeking new export destinations said Gedey.

A Malaysian Business Delegation visited Ethiopia for the first time. The visit was part of a ten day business trip including three African nations.

The delegation made up of representatives from seven Malaysian companies includes delegates from various sectors including household items, detergents, electronics and automotive batteries according to  Aureen Jean Nonis, Director of Lifestyle Section-Africa  with Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation.

The rubber and palm oil sectors were not represented by this trip because Malaysian companies are already engaged in Ethiopia which is a larger importer of palm oil from Malaysia.