Country And Ethiopia in Trade Talks

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Reuters

1 July 2011

Kenya and Ethiopia are negotiating on the implementation of the Common Markets for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) simplified trade regime. Speaking yesterday at the opening of the two day talks, Permanent Secretary for Trade Abdulrazaq Ali said that the outcome would benefit small scale traders on both sides of the borders. “Small cross border traders want and expect our governments to minimize the paperwork and the amount of time they spend at the borders,”he said.

Citing the challenges affecting traders as limited market access, cumbersome procedures for importers and exporters, poor working sites, lack of adequate information and limited value addition, Ali was optimistic that the meeting would address some of these issues.

Currently, Kenya has cross border trade associations with Uganda, Sudan and Tanzania. The Permanent Secretary called for the formation of a similar trade association with Ethiopia.

The head of the Ethiopian delegation, Fikru Tadesse Teferi said the simplified trade regime will likely have ramifications that stretch beyond purely commercial matters. He said the simplified trade regime will help improve the provision of basic social goods, such as efficient transport of medical equipment, educational materials, as well as to combat counter-narcotics.

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