The 24th edition of Addis Chamber International Trade Fair opened on Thursday, February 20, 2020 at the exhibition center.
More than 127 local traders and 74 foreign companies are participating on the international trade fair on all kinds of consumer & industrial products.
Addis Chamber International Trade Fair is an International Business to Business Exhibition whose main focus is on Industrial, Agricultural and Services Sectors.
The annual international trade exhibition is expected to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), promotes joint venture opportunities between Ethiopian citizens and foreign investors, stimulates a culture of entrepreneurship, promotes exports of locally produced goods, and promotes access to the Ethiopian market for international exhibitors.
The country’s main imports include motor vehicles, petroleum products, civil and military aircraft, spare parts, construction equipment, medical and pharmaceutical products, agricultural and industrial chemicals, agricultural machinery, fertilizers, irrigation equipment, and food grains. The major manufacturing sub-sectors in Ethiopia are food processing, beverages, textiles, clothing, and leather goods.
Since 1995 the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations organized 23 International Trade Fairs colorfully with the involvement and participation of a number of public and private stakeholders. The trade fair is expected to stay until February 26, 2020.
The 24th edition of ACITF
‘Afro-optimism’ on the rise among continent’s youth, finds survey
The most comprehensive survey of Africa’s youth to date – the African Youth Survey 2020 – reveals a rising Afro-Optimism among the continent’s youth driven by a strong sense of individual responsibility, a post-colonial mindset, entrepreneurialism, and confidence in a shared African identity. Africa’s youth believe they can solve problems collaboratively, and are hopeful of fighting corruption, achieving peace and improving their personal living conditions.
These findings, which are in stark contrast with global stereotypes and outdated narratives of a hopeless continent, were unveiled by the Ichikowitz Family Foundation, a leading African foundation encouraging active citizenship across the continent.
The African Youth Survey 2020 was conducted across 14 African countries in an unprecedented attempt to pulse the aspirations, motivations and viewpoints of one of the world’s key demographics. Transatlantic polling firm, PSB Research, conducted interviews in Congo Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe – a total of 4,200 in-depth, face-to-face interviews.
Ivor Ichikowitz, chairman of the Ichikowitz Family Foundation said the results “are a loud wake-up call to all the Afro-sceptics”.
“We have found a youth that refuses to shy away from the very real challenges of Africa, that is honest about what needs to be done and what their role has to be to achieve this – and they are overwhelmingly keen to make that difference.”
The average age in Africa is younger than 20, according to the UN, more than 10 years younger than any other continent.
Those surveyed had strong opinions about the importance of technology and business, with 81% saying they believed technology could unlock the continent’s potential. A similar amount believed access to wifi should be a fundamental human right.
Three-quarters of young people said they planned to start their own business in the next five years, and many already had ideas they were ready to work on if given funding.
Commenting on the report, Rosebell Kagumire, editor of the website African Feminism, said the internet had opened doors to opportunities beyond national borders and connected young people across the continent.
“Technology has connected Africans in so many ways. Our grandparents were pan-Africanists and understood the struggle for Africa … but now, more than ever, you’re able to read a story in realtime of what’s happening in another country.”
While the report said there were strong suspicions about the influence of foreign powers, most supported pan-African institutions.
The African Union was mostly looked upon favourably as a way of uniting countries across the continent.
Kagumire said it was easy to be optimistic about the continent’s future despite localised problems, because some nation states are still relatively new.
“When we see ourselves as African, as a people, and what we have achieved together and what we have survived together, that makes a better picture,” she said. “It’s a bigger picture. We are looking at African people, really thinking outside the colonial construct.”
She added, however, that the idea of Afro-optimism was often simplistic, painting a picture of “happy Africans”.
“It assumes a certain lack of complexity. We are allowed to be complex. I don’t think anyone’s in a permanent state of optimism, and certainly not young Africans,” she said.
The biggest concerns were corruption, the creation of new jobs for the continent’s booming young population, and peace and security.
Kagumire pointed out that young people were often disaffected by politics, and women, in particular, felt discriminated against in the corporate world.
“Even when people are optimistic, it’s pegged to the realities.”
Former South African president Kgalema Motlanthe, who contributed to the survey report, said: “I am encouraged by the youth of Africa’s common vision of a pan-African identity; of a love of their fellows that transcends colour, creed, class or nationality.
“I am immensely heartened too by their Afro-optimism, underscored by their belief in Afro-capability.”
South Sudan forms a new national unity government
South Sudan forms a new national unity government which includes both the leading party and the oppositions. The government of President Salva Kiir Mayardit has formed a new unity government cabinet, which includes the opposition Riek Machar.
On the 14 February, 2020 the presidency of South Sudan has held meeting on the sticky issues of the number of states and boundaries in the revitalized agreement on the resolution of the conflict in the republic, and the mater to revitalized transitional government of the national unity and the presidency decided to dissolving the states and form a unity government on February 22, 2020.
On Tuesday February 19, 2020, the president has dissolved the old cabinet to make way for opposition members and replaced by new cabinet on Saturday February 22, 2020. Under the new cabinet the opposition Riek Macher will work as the first vice president of the country on his former position of the before he left the country.
South Sudan, the most recent sovereign country with wide spread of recognition got independent from Sudan in 2011, starting from 2013 a political struggle broke out between president Kiir and his former vice Machar which cause a civil war in the country.
There are expectations that the new deal will bring an end to the South Sudan’s six year civil war, which has killed more than 350, 000 peoples and left millions in poverty and to migration, widespread abuses such as the recruitment of child soldiers and sexual violence.
“The people are suffered enough, new formation will bring peace to our people; we need to live in peace no more war”
In 2016, the two government has been formed a unity government which only lasted for three months.
The other issue which the government makes is decision to return the country to ten states and their previous respective counties and three administration areas named Abyei administration area, Ruwang administration area and Greater pibor administration.
When it gained independence from Sudan in 2011, South Sudan had 10 states, as set out in its constitution. Kiir increased that in 2015 to 28, then later 32.
“This is because of the subject matter and in the interest of peace and stability, in the country,” said Ambassador Devid Dang, the deputy head of the mission of the embassy of the republic of South Sudan in Ethiopia.
According to the South Sudan embassy in Addis Ababa, after the meeting the president has direct the ministry of justice and constitutional affairs to effect these legal changes immediately.
Kiir and Machar are under increasing international pressure to resolve their differences until February 22.
President Kiir has promised protection for opposition leaders. Machar’s allies had sought assurances about his safety should if he formally return to the capital.
Beside these, the report from the embassy indicates there are also other arrangements put in place to address their concerns.
The president said the final matter of states would be debated once the unity government is formed.
Total introduce new lubricant packaging
Total Ethiopia Share Company introduced a new dynamic lubricant pack for the first time in Ethiopia. The new lubricant package will provide all total branded automotive lubricants with innovative and premium design incorporating anti-counterfeiting features and improved labels and utility.
This new dynamic lubricant pack portrays performance at first sight; a rejuvenated, simpler and more compelling range. The major package upgrading is attributing to small package ranges unparalleled performance of automotive lubricant formulation and technology will remain intact.
“The new label design is inspired by the dashboard of a car. This concept was validated by a major market study as innovative and customer-centric, helping the product stand out significantly from its competitors. This major package upgrade is attributed to small package ranges unparalleled performance of automotive lubricants formulations and technology will remain intact,” according to Total Ethiopia.
The main features and benefits of the new dynamic lubricant packs include, new side handle that makes the can handy and easier to carry with new innovative & premium design that captures, Enhanced product recovery with a more preferment can, strong brand impact & immediate product line, visibility QR code that authenticates the product, Enlarged viscosity grade.
Total Ethiopia will soon celebrate its seventy years’ of service in Ethiopia. TOTAL Ethiopia was established in 1950 as a petroleum product distribution company, Lubricants of Total are produced in 41 plants worldwide and with more than 5,800 employees in 150 countries. It is also indicated that lubricants of Total offer innovative, efficient and environmentally responsible services developed by more than 130 researchers and research and development center.
