2merkato

The Ethiopian Airports Enterprise announces that 80% of the first phase of Kombolcha airport has been completed. The new airport is important to the town because it is an industrial hub and needs to deliver products more efficiently said Wondim Teklu Public Relations Head at the Ethiopian Airports Enterprise.

The Kombolcha Airport is a 44 million birr project under construction by Akir Construction PLC. The first phase of the airport includes a 37 million birr run way and apron, 7 million birr passenger terminal and a perimeter gate.

Ethiopia’s trade deficit remains high in spite of notable increases in exports. The gap in the trade balance is failing to lessen because many raw materials used by significant projects, including infrastructure, are imported according to Abdurrahman Seid, Public Relations Deputy Coordinator at the Ministry of Trade.

Import requirements associated with infrastructural development in particular affect the trade deficit because of the massive infrastructure projects that are currently being implemented in the country he said.

The Ethiopian Trade Enterprise (ETE) is to open its first three cash-and-carry stores in Addis Abeba in the first quarter of 2014, Fortune reported.

The stores which will be named Alle Bejimla, Amharic for “wholesale is available”, will initially commence operations by supplying goods to businesses like kiosks, cafes and hotels, according to Fortune.

The Ethiopian Trade Enterprise is to open three wholesale stores in Addis Ababa, Fortune reported. The stores will be constructed in Nifas Silk Lafto and Akaki Kality sub-cities and the third store will be located on a property belonging to the Merchandise Wholesale & Import Trade Enterprise in Addis Ketema sub-city.

Thirty two of the forty five International companies expected to participate in the  Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association (ECCSA) trade fair are Egyptian according to Gashaw Debebe, Secretary General of ECCSA.

Companies from across the globe had been invited to take part in the trade fair through Ethiopian embassies and national chambers Gashaw said.

The significant representation of Egyptian companies suggests that the Business Council of Egypt was effective in promoting the opportunities available in Ethiopia to the Egyptian business community he noted.