The Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC) grain trade mission to Ethiopia for Kenyan traders and processors saw Ethiopian exporters of maize, beans, lentils, oilseed, sorghum, millet, and other assorted grains sign trade contract agreements amounting to 175, 000 metric ton (MT) worth over USD 100,000 with Kenyan buyers.
Representatives from eleven-grain trading and processing companies in Kenya attended the mission which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The trade mission included a matchmaking business two business sessions for the buyers and sellers in which they exchanged information, networked, and negotiated trade deals.
The mission provided an opportunity for Kenyan delegates to make a courtesy call to the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Addis Ababa, learning and experiential visit to Alpha Trading which is a grain processing and handling facility located in Adama and Bahir Dar, as well as a commercial grain firm in Addis Ababa.
Essays Kebede, General Manager at Ethio Agri-CEFT, one of the sponsors of the Trade Mission said the mission demonstrated the potential of the private sector investment to bring about trade competition through overcoming cross border trade barriers and therefore stimulating export-led economic growth which is crucial to regional integrity and prosperity.
“Coming to Ethiopia has been quite a game-changer for us,” said David Muriuki, a Kenyan processor participating in the trade mission. “It has given us a major breakthrough to key Ethiopian grain sellers with large trade volumes and desirable quality.”
Kenya’s annual demand for Soybean is about 70,000 MT yet the supply from local production hardly gets to 15,000 MT against a continuously increasing demand due to the growing animal feed and oil processing industries that utilize raw soy bean or soy bean by products.
Billy Okongo, the Group Supply Chain Manager at Unga Feeds, a market-leading company in animal feeds production in Kenya, expressed his joy for joining the trade mission to explore partnerships with their Ethiopian counterparts citing promising trade deals.
“We thank EAGC for organizing the trade mission to Ethiopia, we are very grateful to have sealed trade deals with Ethiopian suppliers of white sorghum and soya bean,” said a delighted Billy.
Trade Mark East Africa Ethiopia’s Country Manager Tadessa Yimamu reiterated the country’s commitments to institute several trade-friendly measures to facilitate efficient trade between the two countries particularly infrastructural investments which will enhance access across the border and foster economic co-operation.
“We will work with the Eastern Africa Grain Council to unlock logistics challenges hampering trade between Kenya & Ethiopia. Currently, we are supporting the operations of the Moyale One-Stop Border Post where clearance procedures will soon be automated, “said Tadessa.
Grain traders and processors have developed new connections and explored business opportunities with leading grain traders from Ethiopia. These new partnerships will foster economic growth and improve business outcomes in both countries as well as promote food security in the region.
Eastern Africa Grain Council is facilitating efficient, structured, inclusive and profitable cross- border grain trade for optimal benefits of grain value chain players and the broader economy in the journey towards achieving regional food security.
The Ethiopian Herald October 31, 2019
BY GIRMACHEW GASHAW
