Oman has become another logistics power in the Gulf of Aden by investing in a Djibouti port facility Capital learned.
Djibouti, which has attracted several giant international investors in logistics operation grown to seven port facilities within a few years and has become the major port for east Africa. Recently Djibouti and Oman signed an agreement to allow the gulf state to invest in Djibouti’s logistics sector.
The memorandum of agreement signed by Aboubakar Omar Hadi, Chairman of the Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) and Abdulsalam bin Mohammed al Murshidi, Executive President of State General Reserve Fund (SGRF) of Oman in the presence of 
President Ismail Omar Guelleh constitutes an important milestone in the relation between the two institutions and is meant to establish a strategic cooperation in jointly developing, investing, operating and managing ports and other important logistical facilities in Djibouti.
Experts who follow the port development of Djibouti told Capital that the agreement signed late last month would allow Oman to invest on the Doraleh International Container Terminal (DICT) the upcoming biggest container logistics hub will be realized at the middle of the Doraleh Container Terminal and Doraleh Multipurpose Port.
It has been reported that the French logistics giant CMA CGM wants to invest in the DICT, and Oman will also be involved in the project, according to sources.
Sources indicated that the latest deal between Oman and Djibouti has the objective of undertaking a joint investment in the port. DICT’s total investment is tagged at USD 660 million. The upcoming additional container terminal will have a capacity 2.5 million TEU containers per annum in the first phase.
Oman is one of the major port hubs in the Arabian Peninsula. The Port of Salalah is a major trans-shipment hub and gateway to the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and East Africa.
Experts said the coming of Oman is another force for Djibouti to realize its dream to be the dominant logistics players in the east African region.
Oman invests in Djibouti port
Kebele homes to get holding certificates
The Addis Ababa City Government Land Holding Registration and Information Agency is preparing holding certificates for Kebele Houses.
The City Administration is trying to make sure they know who owns each house so they have been registering private and public land holdings throughout Addis. They also have started registering the so-called Kebele houses that were nationalized in 1975 during the Derge government.
The agency already started gathering the necessary information in which demarcating the boundary based on the directives to give title deeds for kebele houses.
“The houses lacking title deeds have been a problem for the Agency because it is hard to prevent illegal activities,” says Liben Feyera, the agency’s communication director.
The Kebele houses are prone to corruption and illegal transfer. Corrupt officials would eliminate the record and transfer the homes to private owners, according to Liben.
The holding certificate is issued in the name of the Woreda administration office where the Kebele houses exist.
The agency is working on strict procedures preparing the certificate. They have a secret print and bar code. The agency is also pays attention to preparing the certificate and follows both officials and officers in charge closely.
From the registered 153, thousand Kebele houses in Addis Ababa, more than 26 thousand Kebele Houses that qualify for title deeds have been sent for certification. The highest number of residential houses are located in Addis Ketema sub-city while the lowest are in Bole sub city.
Kebele houses, were nationalized in 1975 during the Derge government and rented to citizens at the low price of 1birr and 50 cents to 18 birr per month. In most cases it is occupied by one family and can be transferred from one generation to the next. The houses are in very low physical quality, made out of mud and wood and are located in overcrowded areas.
According to the UN-HABITAT definition, 80 percent of Addis Ababa housing is a slum, and 70 percent of these homes are government-owned rental houses.
“The certification process will be finalized up to the end this fiscal year,” Liben added.
Confusion over ECX letter hinders bean exports
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI), is yet to issue an expected directive that would allow exporters of soy and mung beans, who bought the products before the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) took exclusive trading rights a few months ago, to recommence their export. Those affected are opposed to paying a commission to ECX.
The exporters said they bought the beans before the ECX took over the trading, now they say they are unable to export their product.
“MoTI has provided a permit letter showing the product was bought before ECX started the trading, which allows us to get a permit at the customs office for export but now we heard that the ministry has suspended issuing this letter,” one of the exporters, who asked to be anonymous told Capital.
“I bought 9,000 quintals of soybeans in October, which is the beginning month for harvest season, but now they are saying I have to settle the commission fee with ECX which is unfair,” he added.
ECX, the modern trading floor which began operating in April 2008, officially started the exclusive trading of soy and mung beans in January. It says exporters were buying the beans on the primary market even after the trading was fully transferred to ECX.
It banned some exporters from exporting the beans, accusing them illegally buying the products from primary markets.
Last week the Ethiopian Pulses, Oilseeds and Spices Processors-Exporters Association called members who were banned from exporting the products. They asked them to say how much volume they had purchased.
Sources said that the ministry was expected to issue a directive allowing exporters to recommence their export after settling the commission at ECX this week. However, the directive had not been issued when the paper went to print.
Some exporters also argued that the current decision is unacceptable since they bought the product months before the commodity market started the exclusive trading in January.
MoTI is expected to issue a directive allowing exporters who bought the products against the market rule to export the products since they settled the charges that were supposed to be paid to ECX if the products were bought from the electronic trading center. The government is now attempting to obtain the hard currency from the export of those suspended from exporting, according to the sector expert.
New attempt to promote volunteering
The Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs is coming up with a new policy on volunteering. Hopes are that this will make the rules around volunteering more organized and will recognize and support volunteer organizations.
The policy will effect youth between 15-35 years of age. It will try to recognize people for lending a helping hand to those in need and to encourage others to get involved as the practice of volunteering in Ethiopia is less common than in other places.
To improve volunteering here the Ministry used Rwanda and Thailand as examples and spoke with other professionals. The Volunteerism Administration Agency will be established under the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs to coordinate everything.
Better organizing volunteerism will pave the way for improved teaching, helping students who cannot afford paid assistants; people confined to their homes; providing medical or legal counseling pro-bono, and environmental cleanups in streets, and neighborhoods.
