Ethiopia

Background

Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception being the Italian occupation of 1936-41. In 1974 a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000.

Ethiopia's poverty-stricken economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for half of GDP, 85% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector suffers from frequent drought and poor cultivation practices, and as many as 4.6 million people need food assistance annually. Coffee is critical to the Ethiopian economy with exports of some $260 million in 2000. Other important exports include qat, live animals, hides, and gold. The war with Eritrea in 1999-2000 and recurrent drought have buffeted the economy, in particular coffee production. In November 2001 Ethiopia qualified for debt relief from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. Under Ethiopia's land tenure system, the government owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; the system continues to hamper growth in the industrial sector as entrepreneurs are unable to use land as collateral for loans. Despite this limitation, strong growth is expected to continue in the near term as good rainfall, the cessation of hostilities, and renewed foreign aid and debt relief push the economy forward.

Holidays

Ps: Muslim festivals (*) are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. Besides, the Festivals' dates(~) are also subject to change in every year.

Phone Codes

Country Code: 251
Outgoing International Code: 00

Resources

Market Research

CIA - The World Factbook - Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
This website indicates a wide range of detail information about Ethiopia by introducing under 8 different fields as its geography, people, government, economy, communications, transportation, military, transnational issues.

About Ethiopia
There is available to find out Ethiopia's general outlook on the issues of its social and business profile, passport/visa, money, accommodation, government, duty free, health and so forth.

Ethiopia Yellow Pages
It is available to find out category-wise listings of business related to Ethiopia, including telephone numbers and postal address.

Ethiopian Market
ETM provides services for the importers/exporters to find their business matching in the Ethiopian market.

Ethio Trade
It is a trading company subsidiary which supplies information about Ethiopian related businesses and trade.

Ethiopia Business
Mbendi serves as a directory providing an ultimate African Business Source for the potential investors seeking new business opportunities in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia Daily
It is the online news of Ethiopia that supplies both national and international news primarily on the issues of politics, economy & business.

Doing Business in Ethiopia
World Bank represents a snapshot of the business climate in Ethiopia by identifying specific regulations and policies that encourage or discourage investment, productivity, and growth related to Ethiopia.

US Economic/Commercial Office - U.S. Embassy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The Commercial Office of the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa is prepared to assist you in exporting goods and/or services to Ethiopia.

UK Trade & Investment - Ethiopia
UK Trade & Investment is the government organisation that supports both UK companies trading internationally and overseas enterprises seeking to locate in the UK.

OPIC Links - Investor's Information Gateway for Ethiopia
There is available country database information links which are efficient for the new investors planned to do business in Ethiopia including the contact lists of the institutions, organization related to Ethiopian business.

Business Directory - Ethiopia
Wow-directory creates cross-referenced categories in business opportunities for Ethiopia as business to business, classifieds, cooperatives, directories, organizations & trade.

U.S. Department of State: Country Commercial Guide: Ethiopia
The country commercial reports are prepared annually by U.S. Embassies with the assistance of several U.S. Government agencies that basically offers a comprehensive outlook at Ethiopian commercial environments, using economic, political, and market analysis.

Trade Information

Ethiopian Trade Point(ETP)
The Ethiopian Trade Point is an autonomous government institution, established under the Ministry of Trade and Industry that's major objectives are to make foreign trade procedures efficient by facilitating a situation whereby the Trade Point participants provide a coordinated service and facilitate electronic trade transactions based on international standards.

Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce
The Addis Ababa Chamber's foremost interest is to enhance the ability of local manufacturers to produce goods and to facilitate, assist, and coordinate the activities of importers, exporters and service giving enterprises in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia Government Online
It displays the structure of Ethiopian government by looking at its political units, authorities, ministries, commissions and so forth in details.

Embassy Listings For Ethiopia
There is listed the embassies of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia including the embassies' contact information.