ADDIS ABABA – Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and co-founder and former executive chairman of Alibaba Group Jack Ma agreed to establish a hub of electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) in Ethiopia.
A press release published yesterday on Business Wire Media company noted that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government and Alibaba intended to facilitate cross-border trade, provide smart logistics and fulfillment services, assist small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to reach China and other markets and provide talent training.
Minister for Innovation and Technology Getahun Mekuria said that the agreement is an important step in the development of a digital economy in Ethiopia.
The engagement will greatly contribute to trade facilitation and open markets to SMEs not only in Ethiopia but in the wider region, he said. “We look forward to continue working with Alibaba Group to realize the objectives of the platform which has the potential to transform the lives of many.”
Alibaba Group Director and Ant Financial Services Group Chairman and CEO Eric Jing for his part said that Alibaba will continue to support the creation of a more inclusive, digitally-enabled global economy, where small businesses can participate in global trade.
He vowed that his company will work together with entrepreneurs and SMEs from Ethiopia and other African nations to seize the opportunities provided by the digital era.
Ethiopia aims to build a dynamic and growing digital economy that contributes significantly to overall economic growth in the country. Therefore the agreement believed to enable the nation to realize its goal by promoting public-private dialogue in order to support more inclusive global trade which uses technology and policy innovation to provide greater opportunities for SMEs, women and youth.
Next to Rwanda, Ethiopia is the second country in Africa to establish such a eWTP hub, and the partnership builds upon the success of other eWTP partnerships in Asia, Europe and Africa over the past two years, the press release indicated.
It also expressed that the first major initiative of the eWTP partnership will be the development of a multifunction digital trade hub to serve as a gateway for Ethiopian products to China, a center for cross-border e-commerce and trade within Africa and a training center.
China Commodities City International (CCCI) will partner with Alibaba in the development of the Hub. The Alibaba Business School will implement the capacity building and training portion of the partnership which consists of a number of programs, including specialized programs for Ethiopian entrepreneurs, business leaders and university lecturers, it was learnt.
The Ethiopian Herald November 26/2019
BY YOHANES JEMANEH
