VIENNA, 15 June 2021 – The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), in close collaboration with the Government of Ethiopia and the Government of China, has launched a new project entitled "Capacity Building to Upgrade the Livestock Value Chain in Ethiopia".

Funded by the South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF) of China, the project aims to improve the competitiveness of Ethiopia’s meat value chain in the global market. The project will strengthen local institutions by improving their ability to coordinate activities along the livestock value chain. By contributing to the drive for structural transformation, the projects will further contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The project will be implemented within the framework of UNIDO's Programme for Country Partnership (PCP) for Ethiopia and the South-South and Triangular Industrial Cooperation (SSTIC).

Representatives from various public and private institutions, such as the Ministry of Agriculture of Ethiopia (MoA), the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Ethiopia (MoTI), the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, and the CGCOC Group, a Chinese company investing in industrial and agriculture development in Ethiopia, participated in the launch workshop.

In his opening remarks, Fikiru Regasa, State Minister of Livestock Sector, Ministry of Agriculture of Ethiopia, said the livestock sector plays a pivotal role in Ethiopia, contributing to the livelihood of households and the development of the economy, but that the constraints limit the sector’s potential.

The project will enhance the capacity of the sector, especially the potential to enter international markets, and further assist Ethiopia to achieve its development agenda and attain middle-income status by 2025. The State Minister also appreciated the financial and technical support from the government of China and UNIDO.

LIU Jian, Deputy Director General of Department of International Cooperation, the General Administration of Customs of China, reaffirmed the strong support for the GACC-MOA-UNIDO tripartite cooperation. Liu said, “the China-Ethiopia economic cooperation, including that in the areas of customs, inspection and quarantine, has been growing from strength to strength”. The GACC has taken an active part in the development of this project and will continue to support the implementation stage in an effort to improve the competitiveness of the meat value chain in Ethiopia, said Liu. 

Speaking at the launch event, YANG Yihang, the Economic and Commercial Minister-counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, said that as a comprehensive strategic cooperative partner, China firmly supports Ethiopia’s development strategy and stands ready to share its experience. The Minister-counsellor highlighted that upgrading the value chain is one of the key solutions to boost trade and investment for better livelihoods of the people. “This project, launched with the support of South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund, comes just at the right time,” the Minister-counsellor added. He also reiterated the support of the project to strengthen South-South and trilateral cooperation.

In his remarks, Dejene Tezera, Director of UNIDO's Department of Agri-Business, voiced his appreciation of all partners supporting tripartite cooperation and highlighted the project’s role in connecting the livestock potential of Ethiopia with the global market opportunities. Tezera reaffirmed that UNIDO will continue strengthening cooperation with all partners, working together to achieve the project outcomes.

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Ms. Xianyue Sun

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