Addis Ababa, October 1, 2024 (FBC) – During its 39th regular session held today, the FDRE Council of Ministers has passed decisions on key bills pertaining to National Medium Term Revenue Strategy, the Immigration and Citizenship Service Regulations, air services agreements signed with Malta and Chad, the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, as well as the Regulations under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, the Office of the Prime Minister disclosed.
The first agenda the Council deliberated on was Ethiopia’s National Medium Term Revenue Strategy for 2024/25-2027/28 Fiscal Year. This Strategy proposes a comprehensive set of tax policies and administrative measures aimed at simplifying the tax system and fostering a more favourable environment for private investment, thereby bolstering Ethiopia’s global and regional competitiveness. According to the Office of the Prime Minister, the strategy is designed to be aligned with the country’s 10-year development plan.
After discussing the strategy in detail, the Council unanimously made a decision for the strategy to be implemented, effective from the date of its approval.
Next, the Council discussed 2 draft decrees proposed to approve the air service agreements signed by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia with the Government of the Republic of Malta and the Government of the Republic of Chad. The agreements will allow Ethiopian Airlines to make a passenger and cargo flight loop to any city of Malta and to N’Djamena city with 3rd and 4th traffic rights, to operate representative airlines in partnership, to fly to selected destinations with 5th traffic rights and to strengthen Ethiopia’s bilateral relations with the two nations, for trade and investment. These agreements are said to be significant for export trade, tourism, job creation and foreign exchange earnings, as noted by the PM Office.
After discussing the draft decrees, the Council decided to forward them to the House of People’s Representatives for further consideration and approval.
The third agenda the Council discussed was the proposed bill to endorse the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. The Paris Convention applies to industrial property in the widest sense, including patents, trademarks, industrial designs, utility models, service marks, trade names, geographical indications and the repression of unfair competition. This international agreement was the first major step taken to help creators ensure that their intellectual works were protected in other countries. The PM Office pointed out that the endorsement of the Convention will help Ethiopia’s push for membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) and will enable the country to respond to the questions regarding the protection of industrial property from the member countries.
After discussing the draft proclamation, the Council unanimously decided to forward it to the parliament for further deliberation and approval.
Moreover, the Council also discussed a bill to endorse the “Regulations under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks”. It was indicated that the Protocol governs the process of registering trademarks internationally through the Madrid System. This system allows trademark owners to register their marks in multiple countries by filing a single application in one of the designated languages. The Regulations outline the procedures, fees, and requirements for obtaining protection under the Madrid System. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) acts as the receiving office for these applications.
Following extensive deliberation on the agenda, the Council unanimously decided to forward it to the House of People’s Representatives for the further deliberations and approval.
Finally, the Council also discussed on the bills pertaining to the Immigration and Citizenship Service (ICS) Regulation and its employees governing regulation. According to the PM Office, the ICS Regulation is designed to enable the Service fulfill its duties and responsibilities, to provide efficient services to customers and to address issues pertaining to the duration of passports. In addition, ICS’s employees governing regulation was also designed to enable the Service apply effective institutional reform works, as well as to enable the reforms be fully implemented.
After extensive discussion on the proposed bill, the Council unanimously made a decision for the Regulations to take effect with additional inputs from the date of publication in the Negarit gazette.