Addis Ababa, November 15, 2022 (FBC) – The 11th international conference on oilseeds and cereal crops kicked off in Sheraton Hotel, Addis Ababa, with the presence of the FDRE President, Sahle-Work Zewde.
Minister of Trade and Regional Integration Gebremeskel Chala, delivered an opening remark during the opening of the conference.
In his remarks, the Minister stated that international trade plays a massive role to speed up the country’s economic development beyond utilizing and promoting natural resources.
Gebremeskel said that apart from promoting Ethiopia’s natural resources and promoting the country’s international trade relations, international trade will contribute greatly to accelerating the nation’s economic growth, creating job opportunities and improving the living standard of the society.
He explained that a strategy was designed and is being implemented to take part in international trade and increase export trade through improving the quality of agricultural products, export trade promotion, export product composition, competitiveness as well as trade relations and negotiations.
To increase the growth of export trade, a free trade zone and trade reform policy has been prepared, and to increase the variety of export products, the Ethiopian government is working to export wheat for the first time in the 2022/23 fiscal year.
The international conference on pulses and oil seeds plays pivotal role in promoting the country’s export trade. The conference is also expected to help in implementing designed strategies.
In addition to President Sahle-Work Zewde, other senior government officials, ambassadors, domestic exporters and international buyers of Ethiopia’s products also attended the opening of the conference.
According to the Ministry, the conference is scheduled to be held from 15 to 16 November with various events.