The launching of Ethiopian Electronic Single Window Service is among the major triumph of the business front as it cuts to a 15-day the previous 44-day long process-a measure which is also conformity with a vision of placing Ethiopia among the top 100 doing business ranking by 2021.
Easing doing business has already become the buzzword among some select government offices. Particularly, public offices that have a direct bearing on investment, trade, and customs have rolled up their sleeves to get rid of the constraints of creating and sustaining business.
The government has taken practical actions which included enacting eight new laws and reforming 40 procedural and administrative guidelines.
A steering committee coordinated by the investment office and answerable to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed oversees the accomplishment of each sector periodically.
Most, if not all, of the involved sectors, have taken several remarkable measures ranging from improving guidelines and manuals to improving laws.
To cite but a few, respective public bodies removed requirements of company name publication and lease/rental agreement; tax payment through banks have also been implemented and commercial benches have also been established.
Ministries including Trade and Industry, Revenue, as well as Customs Commission, Addis Ababa City Administration, Ethiopian Electric Utility, Federal Attorney General and the National Bank are among the public bodies onboard the doing business initiative. And the good thing is that all of them have made remarkable jobs.
We will remain optimistic that they will also build the capacity of their personnel to live up to the expectations of foreign and domestic customers.
The Ethiopian Herald January 10/2020
