An international trade fair will be held at Addis Ababa Exhibition Centre from November 1-5, 2018, according to the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA).
ECCSA Vice President Assefa Gebreselassie said over 200 companies public and private enterprises mainly engaged in manufacturing and service sectors will display their products in the fair.
Some 29 of the companies taking part in the fair are from Greece, China, Russia, India, Singapore, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Sudan, Somaliland, Iran, and Morocco, it was learned.
“Foreign companies will create market linkage with domestic companies during the fair,” Assefa added.
ECCSA Secretary-General Endalkachew Sime said on his part the fair will help develop the capacity of domestic manufacturers through promoting their products.
“There are lots of international standard quality products produced by domestic manufacturers. The fair will provide an opportunity for them to promote the products”, he said.
Endalkachew noted that foreign investors taking part in the fair can have the chance to assess the huge market in the country and the attractive investment opportunities.
The 11th Ethio-Chamber International Trade Fair is organized by the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association.
About ECCSA
The concept of the Chamber of Commerce was introduced to Ethiopia for the first time in 1943. The need for its establishment basically emanated from the economic crisis occurred during that time. The establishment of the Chamber of Commerce was seen as a solution to address the distribution of scarce commodities such as cotton, yarn, and woolen products. Members of the Chamber of Commerce were allowed to distribute those scarce commodities to stabilize the market.
Cognizant to these the Government issued Charter No. 90/47 in 1947 in a bid to establishing the Chamber as a legally recognized institution. This was the turning point for the establishment of an apex organization of the private sector in the country. The Charter clearly defined the roles and functions of the Chamber and stipulated membership to be mandatory.
A cursory investigation of some documents indicates that the Chamber had good Government support with patronage at the highest political level. In 1959, the Government as part of its endeavors to strengthen the Chamber provided a plot of land on which the current seven-story Head Quarters building was constructed. The construction of the building was also facilitated by the Government. The National Chamber had then branches in Asmara, Diredawa, Gondar, Jimma, and Nazareth.
Following the change of Government in 1974 proclamation No. 148/74 was enacted that declared membership of business entities mandatory and restructured the Chamber in line with the command economic policy adopted by the then administration.
The Chambers’ activities during this period were focused mainly on promoting export trade, participating in international trade fairs, conducting research on trade constraints, and establishing relations with other chambers.
In 2003, the incumbent Government promulgated Proclamation No. 341/2003 with a view to reorganizing Chambers of Commerce in line with the free-market economic policy and the Government’s Industrial Development Strategy (IDS) of the nation. Accordingly, the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce has been restructured and rechristened the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations in 2007.
ECCSA is an apex organization of Chambers and Sectoral Associations in Thousands upon thousands of cassette tapes and master reels were quickly removed from the soon-to-be targeted buildings. They were dispersed to neighboring countries like Djibouti and Ethiopia. It has eighteen members including nine Regional Chambers of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, two City Chambers of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, one National Chamber of Sectoral Associations, and six Sectoral Associations organized at the national level.
