Ethiopian exporters have been encouraged to take full advantage of the United Kingdom’s preferential duty-free trade scheme to expand their presence in the UK market and boost the country’s export earnings.
The call was made during a business forum held in Addis Ababa to raise awareness among Ethiopian traders and exporters about the UK’s preferential trade regime, including its eligibility requirements, quality standards and practical export procedures.
The forum was organized by the Ethiopian Embassy in London in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Regional Development, the UK Trade and Development Office, the British Embassy, and the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations.
Speaking at the event, Ethiopian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Biruk Mekonnen, said Ethiopia has significant opportunities to expand exports of coffee, agricultural products and textiles under the UK’s duty-free market access scheme.
However, the ambassador stressed that preferential market access alone is not sufficient to increase exports. He urged Ethiopian producers and exporters to focus on improving product quality, competitiveness and sustainability in order to succeed in international markets.
Organizers said the forum aims to help Ethiopian businesses integrate into global value chains and strengthen the country’s export performance, contributing to broader economic growth.
The United Kingdom expanded duty-free access for flower imports from East African countries two years ago, allowing eligible products to enter the UK market without import tariffs.
The measure was intended to support flower producers and traders while ensuring a stable supply of flowers for the British market.
Ethiopia, alongside Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, is among the East African countries benefiting from the arrangement. These countries can export flowers to the UK duty-free, whether shipped directly or through third countries.
Ethiopia exports more than £13 million worth of flowers to the United Kingdom each year.
The country’s export sector has also recorded strong overall growth. Ethiopia generated approximately $11 billion in export revenue during the current fiscal year, driven primarily by coffee and gold exports. Other major export commodities include electricity, khat, pulses and oilseeds.