Three weeks ago, the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration reported the decline of revenue in khat trade because of illegal commerce systems and complex bureaucracy on customs services.
ENACT Africa, an organisation dedicated to combating transnational organised crime, also disclosed in its research that “differing legislative approaches to khat trade are driving an illegal smuggling market across East and Horn of Africa.”
The Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration shared the concern that the illegal transactions are affecting Ethiopia’s economy by decreasing the revenue of khat trade and causing the country to lose foreign currency. The ministry added that it’s “losing national benefits for neighbouring countries.”
Khat is one of the promissory export commodities identified. By establishing a modern, integrated, and competitive export trade system, the ministry hoped to boost the country’s foreign currency earnings. However, the implementation report for the previous eight months demonstrates that khat export performance hasn’t been as predicted.
To overcome the illegal activities in the khat trade, the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration is introducing different measures.
One is the launching of a one-window service for khat exporters. The ministry said it will start recording every document in the khat exporting business including the granting of licence in the one-window service.
According to the ministry, starting from May 27, 2022, exporters should present their exporting contract to the ministry before getting an exporting licence from banks.
In addition, a national task force has been constituted to address the issues of khat export.
The task force is forging cross-border commerce and anti-contraband agreements with neighbouring countries, augmenting human resources at customs service branch offices, and implementing digital monitoring and transportation systems.
