CONTENTS. 1. Introduction

Transcription

1

2 CONTENTS 1. Introduction 1.1. Historical background 1.2. Mission, Vision and Objectives 1.3. Roles and Functions Trade& Investment Promotion Advocacy BDS Capacity Building 2. Advocacy Arms of the Chamber: PSD Hub, PPCF, Chamber Forum 3. Pipeline project: Chamber Academy 4. Possible areas of Joint Venture: with 5. Possible areas of cooperation: with with Italian Investors with Milan & Other Italian Chamber of Commerce

3 PART I

4 1.1. Though it was in 1559 in Marseilles,France, that the first Chamber of Commerce was founded, the concept of chamber of commerce was introduced toethiopiaforthefirsttimein1943. The need to establish chamber of commerce in Ethiopia basically emanated from the economic crisis which the country experienced soon after the end of Italian occupation. Especially the scarcity of cotton, yarn & wool was believed to be the main reason for the establishment of chamber in the country..

5 CONTINUED The first chamber of commerce in the history of Ethiopia was established pursuant to General Notice No. 90/47. which clearly defined the functions and duties of chamber and membership was voluntary. In 1971 the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce (ECC) has been re organized withbranchesinasmara, DireDawa,Jimma, Gonder& Nazareth. Following the change of government in 1974, proclamation No. 148/74, which was basically a public law, was promulgated and the Ethiopian chamber of commerce was re-structured in line with centrally planned economic policy of defunct government. Membership become mandatory.

6 CONTINUED In 2003, the incumbent government promulgated proclamation No. 341/2003 to re-constitute chambers of commerce in light of free market economic policy and the federal arrangements of the country. Accordingly, the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce has been restructured and re named as the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce & Sectoral Associations (ECCSA). The government has recognized the role of private sector as an engine of economic growth and showed willingness to further strengthen it.

7 1.2. VISION To be internationally competitive and exemplary chamber in Africa. MISSION ECCSA is an umbrella private sector representative striving to create vibrant private sector in the country through advocacy, promotion of trade & investment,and capacity building. VALUES Highest level of integrity and professionalism Concern for members interest Partnership Transparency and accountability

8 OBJECTIVES Provide various services to members and the business community. Safeguard the overall rights and benefits of members and the business community. Publicize Ethiopian products and services. Promote trade and investment of the nation. Bridge any cleavage between the business society and the government.

9 1.3. ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE CHAMBER SYSTEM IN ETHIOPIA TRADE AND INVESTMENT PROMOTION Organizing trade fairs locally and Participating in trade fairs abroad. Organizing Business to Business meeting (B2B). Organizing trade missions in a bid to exploiting new market opportunities. Establishing relations with chambers of commerce of other countries through signing of Memorandum of Understandings (MOU) and establishing Joint Business Councils(JBC). ECCSA has signed Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) and Cooperation agreements with the following countries Chambers of Commerce: Italy (with Sezione Camere di Commercio Italo-estereo estere in Intalia in 2005), South Africa, South Korea, Vietnam, India, Sudan, South Sudan, Israel, China, Egypt, Yemen, Turkey, Djibouti, Uganda, Hungary, Romania. ECCSA has also established a Joint Business Council(JBC) with Chambers of Turkey, Sudan, Djibouti, Egypt, Tunisia and India.

10 CONTINUED ADVOCACY 1. Representing the private sector and participating in policy &strategy development 2. Participating in policy and program review 3. Undertaking research and development activities through its PSD Hub. 4. Creating awareness among the business community on governmental policies, regulations and directives through the Chamber Forum. 5. Conducting Public Private Consultative Forum (PPCF) geared towards creating a conducive business environment BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICE (BDS) Publishing Business Directory, Exporters Guide and Newspapers. Providing certificate of origin and authenticating business related documents

11 CONTINUED Publishing and Distributing BDS publications like: How to prepare business plan How to start and improve your business Taxation in Ethiopia Financing business in Ethiopia How to calculate and record cost Book Keeping CAPACITY BUILDING Providing training on Tax, Leadership, Governance and other issues. Providing consultancy and advisory service. Encouraging the establishment of Chambers at various levels and providing technical assistance. Assisting member chambers to establish Public Private Consultative Forum (PPCF) at all levels. Supporting members to have access to IT infrastructure.

12 HARMONIZING COMMON CAUSE

13 AIRING BUSINESS VOICE

14 BRIDGING PUBLIC AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR

15 INKING FURTHER RELATIONSHIP

16 CREATING BUSINESS NETWORK (B2B)

17 PROMOTING TRADE AND INVESTMENT

18 ORGANIZING INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIRS

19 CREATING A VENUE FOR ENTREPRENEURS

20 PART II

21 1. Private Sector Development Hub Research Arm The Private Sector Development Hub (PSD Hub) was launched in January 2005, with an agreement signed between the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (AACCSA) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency(SIDA). Since PSD Hub is a strategic tool of the Ethiopian Business community, its accountability is transferred to the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations(ECCSA). The Hub has conducted 22 research papers on what it deemed were the major issues for the private sector, including on the Commercial Code revision, impact of tax reform on privates sector, land lease policy of Addis Ababa, and the standardization of accounting and auditing processes. Currently there are many more critical ongoing studies.

22 CONTINUED Achievements : With a view of strengthening the voice of the business community in the Public Private Partnership Dialogue (PPPD), the PSD Hub has commissioned, completed, published and distributed a number of PSD- related research studies useful for the advancement of trade and investment in the country. The Hub s publications of studies and subsequent development of intervention projects have been widely welcomed as authoritative and constructive by their principle target audience- the government, the business community and the donors. The PSD Hub asastrategictool of theethiopianbusinesscommunityenablesit to regularly identify areas of study with particular relevance to the promotion of the private sector. It has established an enviable reputation as an impartial source of information on a variety of institutional subjects.

23 2. Ethiopian Public Private Consultative Forum -Consultation Arm Consultation The Ethiopian Public Private Consultative Forum (EPPCF) has been established by a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Former Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA). The EPPCF has been set up with the view of institutionalizing the Public Private Dialogue by providing a platform for sectoral and cross-sectoral dialogue in a structured manner. The Ethiopian Public Private Consultative Forum (EPPCF) has been mandated via a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) to be the main vehicle for public private consultation in Ethiopia.

24 CONTINUED The objectives of the EPPCF include: Creating a conducive investment climate that enables the private sector to thrive; Finding lasting solutions for constraints relating to business regulations and their implementations; Fostering strong partnership and mutual trust and cooperation between business and government. The EPPCF has an ambitious structure that covers three levels: Federal State Woreda

25 CONTINUED National Business Consultative Forum: The high level businessforumwill beheld onceinayear. Itischaired bytheprimeminister. This Forum is an opportunity for national level issues to be addressed by the Prime Minister. In addition to potential policy announcements, the NBCF will also provide an opportunity to outline issues and opportunities for the EPPCF to address. Federal Public-Private Consultative Forum: The Federal Level Forum will enable the Minister of Trade, the lead counterpart Ministry within the EPPCF, and ECCSA to review the progress and outstanding issues arising from the EPPCF consultations. This level of discussion will facilitate implementation of Sector Forum issues and will insure that issues requiring consideration at the NCBF will be appropriate for such a high level consultation form.

26 CONTINUED Sector Forums: At the Federal level, the dialogue is centered on six sectoral associations that are the pillars of the ECCSA. The formal dialogue that will take place at this level will be in Sector Forums. These Sector Forums will be technical level discussions focused on the six sector pillars of the ECCSA. Regional and Woreda Consultative forums: The second and third level of dialogue is at the State and Woreda levels. It is intended that the EPPCF at the Federal level will provide the structure from which issues raised at the level of the Woreda can be raised all the way through to the high level business Forum provided that the issues are of a national interest.

27 3. THE CHAMBER FORUM: It is designed to discuss and exchange ideas with leaders of the private and public sectors. All Forum speakers and panel participants are recognized leaders honored for their high level of objectivity and integrity as well as patented knowledge. Furthermore, conferences, seminars, and symposiums are organized on new Government laws, policies, regulations and other relevant issues. Recently the chamber has successfully organized the 3rd Chamber Forum and by then creates awareness among the business community on governmental policies, regulations and directives.. At this forum the new export incentive proclamation and the new investment law has been discussed and debated so as to clear ambiguities.

28 PART III

29 PIPELINE PROJECTS Considering the very importance of socially responsible private sector and entrepreneurship for the country s sustainable development, the chamber is embarking up on establishing the Chamber Academy and Ethiopian Women Entrepreneurs Forum(EWEF). Chamber Academy: the new entrepreneurship development related venture of ECCSA...in its attempt to usher the growth of the private sector, ECCSA is trying to establish a national chamber academy. Besides its prime focus of building the leadership and management capacity of Membership-Based Organizations(MBOs),the Chamber Academy is intended to serve as a hub and incubation centre for business managers and leaders which directly contribute to the creation of new entrepreneurs and strengthening the existing ones.

30 PART IV

31 POSSIBLE AREAS OF DIRECT INVESTMENT AND JOINT VENTURE Joint venture investments in the following sectors have extensive benefits and profit margins:- Animal fattening Animal feed processing Meat processing Textile and garment Leather and leather products Pharmaceuticals industry Metal and engineering industry Sugar and related products Chemicals Agro-processing Mining Energy Tourism Construction

32 PART V

33 POSSIBLE AREAS OF COOPERATION With Milan & Other Italian Chambers of Commerce Ethiopia and Italy signed a bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement in 1994; and Italian businessmen discussed over two hundred direct investment projects in Ethiopia. Moreover, the total trade turnover has shown an enormous growth over the years and has surpassed 392 million US dollars in Hence forth, to cement this trade and investment relationship of the two sisterly countries, Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations is kindly looking forward to do the following with Milan & other Italian Chambers of Commerce: Exchange delegation to explore business opportunities for mutual benefit. Organizing joint exhibitions and forums for creating better trade and investment relations of the two countries. Establishing jointly administered permanent exhibition centers Forming a Joint Business Council (JBC) to realize the above points.

34