The private sector in Ethiopia and Djibouti need to play role to further consolidate the economic cooperation between the two countries, the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce said.
The business persons in both countries need to move as fast as the desire and effort of the two governments to further deepen ties, President of the Chamber Youssouf Moussa Dawaleh told ENA.
Noting that the governments of Ethiopia and Djibouti are closely working to boost ties, the president said, business communities of the two countries are not as active as they are expected to be, in the efforts to consolidate economic cooperation.
He called on business communities to help governments’ efforts towards strong economic relations saying “…now this is the time for the private sector to be also more efficient in terms of visiting each other, to keep-in the relations, to discuss about several issues concerning for the business communities.”
The Djibouti Chamber of Commerce is working closely with its Ethiopian counterpart to create strong tie among the business communities in the countries through successive discussions, he added.
The two chambers have meet periodically to smoothen the trade relations and address challenges raised by business persons in both countries,”… it [the Djibouti Chamber of Commerce] is to meet every six months with the Chamber of Commerce or the biggest business association in Ethiopia every six month to discuss the issues that to highlight what we have to involve and develop,” he said.
The two associations have been working closely to address challenges related to shipment delays and container congestion at the ports in Djibouti, he added.
The upcoming IGAD Business Forum to be held in Djibouti in February 2015 will be another opportunity for the chambers to discuss on ways of further consolidating cooperation and address challenges business communities are facing, he stated.
[ENA]