Ethiopia examines horticultural sea export

Ethiopian horticulture exporters are looking into possibilities that would enable them to export their products to the Middle East and Europe by sea.

The Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that it was possible for Ethiopia to transport flowers, vegetables, fruits and meat by ship to the Middle East. Dr. Aberra said the ministry was assessing the storage facilities at the Port of Djibouti, adding that the marine transport would reduce costs by 50 percent.

Tsegaye Abebe, chairman of the Ethiopian Horticulture Exporters Association, said African countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Senegal and Kenya were exporting their products to the Middle East by sea. "The high cost of air transport is preventing us from being competitive. So we have to look into the alternative. There is the possibility that we could export flowers, fruits and vegetables, meat and fish by ship," Tsegaye said.

Recently Ethiopia exported flowers to the Middle East by ship on a trail basis. It takes 15 to 17 day to transport the goods there via the Port of Djibouti. "We will rectify the problems identified in the trial shipment," Tsegaye said.

The international transport company, Maersk, expressed its readiness to supply refrigerated containers to Ethiopia. Ethiopian Shipping lines, Foreign shipping lines and local transport companies can transport the perishable goods by using the refrigerated containers.

Ethiopian Reporter