A delegation composed of members from the Ethiopian Customs Commission (ECC) has paid a visit to Djibouti to solve problems that have popped up in the past week with regards to customs documents.
A couple of weeks back, Capital reported that in relation to a visit led by Alemu Simie, Minister of Transport and Logistics, to Djibouti, one of the major talking topics revolved around customs documents between the duo.
The issue has now been thoroughly looked into by President Ismail Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, who has directed the case to be solved swiftly.
As per the information Capital obtained from reliable sources, a delegation led by Debele Kabeta, Commissioner of ECC, visited Djibouti from Tuesday March 21 through March 23 meeting different stakeholders including leaders of its counterpart.
The problem that impeded the incoming Ethiopian cargo from Djibouti to the center in the past few weeks was related with the request of HS Code and Area Code of Ethiopian cargo from the Djibouti customs.
Sources said that on the visit, the two sides negotiated to ease the case to enable the transport of Ethiopian containerized cargos smoothly to the country.
Sources said that the two sides have been in discussion from March 21 to 23 at the Sheraton Hotel Djibouti, and agreed on various issues including the case raised from the Djiboutian side.
On its social media, the Ethiopian Embassy in Djibouti stated that the two countries customs authorities raised a wide range of concerns on customs related issues and agreed to collaborate to improve customs efficiency.
Sources said that concerns raised from both sides have been solved following the visit of Ethiopian delegation.
Few weeks ago in order to expedite cargo going to Ethiopian consumers, Djiboutian Customs was asking for documents such as the HS Code, TIN and Area Code that the Djiboutian side claimed is part of their responsibility under a protocol signed between the two customs in the second half of the 2000s.
Experts from the Ethiopian side concurred with the argument from the Djibouti side but claimed that demanding such documents is not relevant for the Djiboutian regulatory authority since the documents are used for duty purpose for ECC.
During the latest meeting, the duo also discussed the implementation of a single document management which is planned to be introduced soon.
Recently, Commissioner Debele of the Ethiopian Customs Commission, and Rahma Omar Bogoreh, Director of Transit Department of Djibouti, told Capital that the strong relationship and cooperation between the two countries’ customs offices was one of the exemplary achievements registered on the logistics sector.
The two sides are working to introduce more strong cooperation regarding declaration and other document based works.
Rahma explained that on the new scheme, a declaration given by Ethiopia or vice versa will be used by both countries without further issuance of documents.
“We need to have similar customs procedure based on a single customs administration document,” Debele told Capital recently.
Ethiopian delegates visit Djibouti to iron out customs issues
Ethiopia launches National Food and Nutrition Strategy Baseline Survey Report
Ethiopia launched the National Food and Nutrition Survey (FNS, 2022) preliminary report on Thursday, March 23. This survey was commissioned by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and implemented by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), with support from UNICEF and collaborating partners (GAIN and Nutrition International). The FNS, 2022 is funded by The Power of Nutrition, The Eleanor Crook Foundation, The END Fund, Rotary International, and the World Bank.
“The government of Ethiopia is implementing various food and nutrition-related policies and programmes to achieve the national and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as well as improve the food and nutrition security of its citizens. The Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with Implementing Ministries and development partners, is also coordinating the implementation of the national Food and Nutrition Strategy,” said Dr. Lia Tadesse, Minister of Health.
Ethiopia has experienced a steady reduction in the prevalence of stunting over the past two decades from 58 per cent in 2000 to 34 per cent in 2022. Early initiation of breastfeeding (initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth) has shown a slight improvement from 72 per cent (in 2019) to 77 per cent in 2022, and exclusive breastfeeding has increased from 59 per cent in 2019 to 61 per cent in 2022.
This is a result of the Government and partners’ ongoing commitment to end malnutrition in all its forms through creating policy space, expanding service delivery platforms, and capacity-building initiatives.
Despite the progress, Ethiopia is amongst the countries with the highest number of stunted children under five in the world. The average prevalence of stunting in developing countries is 25 per cent. In addition, only 8 per cent of children aged 6 to 23 months consumed the minimum recommended 5 out of 8 food groups. Overall, 47 per cent of children were in severe food poverty, meaning they consumed 2 or fewer food groups a day contributing to an observed high prevalence of wasting at 11 per cent.
“On behalf of the UN, Donors, and our development partners, we would like to commend the leadership and commitment of the Government for driving forward the Food and Nutrition Strategy baseline survey,” said Dr. Aboubacar Kampo, UNICEF Representative in Ethiopia. “Generating evidence and understanding of the nutritional status of children and their families is critical to formulating timely and relevant interventions as well as policy decisions to improve food and nutrition security across the country.”
In recognition of the remaining challenges in nutrition, health, hygiene and sanitation, the Government of Ethiopia launched the National Food and Nutrition Strategy (2022-2030), with a commitment to end malnutrition in all its forms in Ethiopia. This report provides robust data on the nutrition status of women, children, and adolescents and will inform on the implementation of the strategy across sectors.
This report validates the national programmatic priorities and the need to accelerate multisectoral responses and initiatives to improve food and nutrition security in Ethiopia, including large-scale food fortification, micronutrient supplementation programmes, and delivery of essential services for nutrition.
In addition to providing evidence on the state of food and nutrition security in Ethiopia, implementation of the FNS 2022 achieved significant local capacity building for EPHI as a reference laboratory for micronutrient assessments and food samples testing in the region. All micronutrient and food assessments are conducted locally in Ethiopia.
Private sector deemed key to unlocking AfCFTA potential
The private sector’s role is vital to fully unlock benefits of the AfCFTA as it offers huge opportunities for the private sector, financial experts emphasize.
On March 20th, the Pan Africa Chamber of Commerce and Industries /PACCI/ hosted a business roundtable on AfCFTA benefits for business. Several representatives from business across Africa and high level officials from regional and international organizations participated on the meeting which aimed to create awareness on the implementation and acceleration of the Africa continental free trade agreement and its benefits.
“SMEs accounts for millions of companies operating in Africa therefore building a structure that supports their growth in to inter-Africa trade is crucial while accelerating the implementation of the AfCFTA,” Kebour Ghenna, Executive Director of the chamber stated whilst indicating that over the 90 percent of PACCI members were SMEs.
As experts indicate, from the African private sector, which constitutes 90 percent of small and medium enterprises, challenges are faced in conducting cross-border trade due to non-tariff barriers such as complex customs procedures, lack of access to finance, high costs of transportation and logistics, and lack of access to information, among others inadequate infrastructure connectivity, rudimentary productive capacity, and risky or expensive payment systems as some of the barriers to trade.
“We must push our governments and policy makers to accelerate the practical impacts of the agreement which has been rather minimal. We need to do more to put in place facilitation and regulation for export and trading,” said the executive director.
At the event, Djamel Ghrib, Director of Economic Development Integration and Trade at the Africa Union stated that, “The AfCFTA is the continents ambitious integration initiative with the aim of creating single continental market that goods and services free to move including free movement of people and business persons to expand investment and inter Africa trade relation across the continent to enhance continental development and transformation,” adding, “Africa is in challenging times due to the COVID-19 pressure, Russia-Ukraine war effect and the climate change. We at the AU commission have ties with the private sector to respond to challenges to get the prosperous Africa.”
“One of the aspects of AfCFTA is to grow continental trade in Africa which seeks technology to grow in the inter Africa trade,” said Stephen Kiptinness, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Safaricom telecommunications company, appreciating the recent 3 protocols including the intellectual property protocol that the AU has ratified. He remarked that one of the challenges that Africa has was indeed connectivity.
“Safaricom works to improve connectivity in inter Africa region to provide network which helps digital trade to happen. As we see, bringing Mpesa in many African countries can grow digital trade and financial services and access and inclusion,” said Stephen showing how as a private sector Safaricom is striving to meet the connectivity loopholes.
Africa’s private sector accounts for 80 per cent of total production, two-thirds of investment, and three-quarters of credit, and employs 90 per cent of the working-age population according to recent continental reports.
Top Interesting Facts You Didn’t Know About Turtles
From the alien-like ninja turtle characters to their own fantastically fascinating food and communication habits in nature, turtles are one of the most interesting reptilian species on Earth. If you’re curious to learn more about these incredible creatures, you’ll find that there is so much more than meets the eye when it comes to their lives–from astounding adaptation abilities to crazy shapes and sizes! In this blog post, we’ll dive into some truly remarkable facts about turtles; a few picks might just surprise even the most devoted turtle fanatics out there! Be prepared for some amazing education too: from health care insights to ancient oceanic migration paths, get ready as we explore together some of the best bits of knowledge surrounding these charming shelled pals.
Turtles Have Been Around Since Before The Dinosaurs
Turtles have been around longer than many of us can even fathom. They evolved over 200 million years ago, making them one of the oldest living creatures on earth. This is just one of the many great facts about turtles, not only have turtles weathered several mass extinction events, but they’ve also had their shells morph and change along with their environments. Today, we get to marvel at these hardy reptilians in zoos, aquariums, and from time to time on hikes. They deserve our respect and protection for being such a remarkable species!
Turtles Are Able To Breathe Through Their Skin
Turtles are adaptable creatures that have evolved some fascinating abilities over the years to help them survive and thrive in their environment. One of the most striking abilities is their uncanny knack for staying underwater for long periods of time without having to come up for air; this ability is made possible by their unique ability to breathe through their skin! Clearly, turtles have found a way to truly make use of the oxygen that can be found in their watery habitats, allowing them to accurately and effectively navigate this liquid world. As we marvel at all that our amazing planet has to offer, it’s no wonder these aquatic reptiles continue to draw our attention with their remarkable adaptations.
Turtles Have Special Adaptations That Allow Them To Survive In Different Climates
Turtles are remarkable animals that have uniquely adapted to their environment. From the sheer versatility of different habitats they can dwell in, such as ponds, wetlands, and even deserts, to the incredible features of their shells, turtles are remarkable survivors. For example, turtles can seal off their shells tightly when it gets colder or needs protection from predators; some species also have flaps or eyelids that cover their eyes during hibernation and cold months. Their special adaptation does more than just keep them alive—it ensures they thrive in whatever climate they find themselves living in. Without this exceptional ability to survive in various conditions, these reptiles wouldn’t be able to reach the longevity for which they are known—up to 100 years!
Most Turtles Lay Eggs On Land And A Few Species Even Give Birth To Live Young!
Out of all the world’s creatures, turtles have a truly remarkable reproductive strategy. Rather than relying on the mother to care for her young, most turtles lay their eggs in vulnerable places like sand dunes or riverbanks and then leave them to fend for themselves – hoping that they will make their way out of the eggshells and start life on their own. But that’s not all – some turtle species have actually evolved beyond this method and now give birth to live young instead! This incredible adaptation means that these turtles can protect their babies from predators by staying close and keeping them under wraps until they are ready to face the world. It’s fascinating to see how nature has found ways for different species to survive and thrive – even if it does mean playing a bit of a dangerous game with those vulnerable eggs behind on land.
Unlike Other Reptiles, Some Aquatic Turtles Can Sleep Underwater
Sea turtles have some truly remarkable qualities and adaptions; their ability to sleep underwater is certainly one of the most amusing. Though most reptiles sleep above the surface, aquatic turtles such as the painted turtle use a tactic that mimics hibernation, known as torpor, to take restful naps without breaking their streak of swimming and exploring. To do this, they purify their bloodstreams in preparation for deep sleep and tuck their vulnerable heads into the safety of their shells before closing them tight. Their bodies become suspended in time as days pass by, until they decide to awaken with renewed energy and continue on their journey through the depths beneath them. Unique natural wonders like these indicate a level of ingenuity that we can admire, yet never expect to achieve ourselves.
Turtles are truly remarkable creatures, and their ancient legacy is both awe-inspiring and humbling. From their ability to adapt to various climates and habitats to the way they breathe through their skin or even sleep underwater, there’s no denying that turtles have been around for an incredibly long time—they have unimaginable wisdom tucked deep within them! Not only do turtles teach us valuable lessons about living sustainably and adapting with patience and determination, but they are also an important part of Earth’s biodiversity and ecosystem. Let’s take a moment to appreciate these fascinating reptiles, who will hopefully continue making us marvel at their unique abilities centuries from now!
