Border trade starts between Ethiopian, Sudanese towns

Feb 7, 2006 (GONDER) — Small-scale cross-border trading has been started between two border towns of Ethiopia and the Sudan, the Northwest Customs Coordinating Office said.

The border trade has been launched last month between Al Mehal and Menza towns as per the agreement signed between the two neighboring countries earlier, acting head of the office Getahun Tuji told the state-run ENA.

Getahun said the economic and business agreement of the two countries enables the Ethiopian and Sudanese merchants to carry out business transactions worth up to 2,000 Birr (229,17 USD).

Some 31 licensed businesspersons from Metekel Zone of the Benishangul Gumuz State said they had exported 62,000 Birr (7104 USD) worth commodities to the Sudan and imported items worth 15,000 Birr owing to the launch of the border trade.

Ethiopian businesspersons would export agricultural, horticultural, and livestock products to the Sudan and Sudanese merchants would export dates, onion, marble, table salt, household materials, soap, matches, perfumes, and dry cells to Ethiopia as per the trade agreement of the two sisterly countries.

The border trade would further strengthen people-to-people relations of the two east African countries besides the economic benefits for the respective communities, he said.

Meanwhile, the head said, customs office has secured 2,400 Birr (275 USD) in revenue from import taxes.

(ENS/ST)