Welcome to Ethiopia. Selam!

Trip Details

Departure: August 11, 2012

Return: August 19, 2012

Registration Close: July 1, 2012

Late Registration: After July 1, 2012

(Late Registration Fee: $150)

Voyage Cost: $7000

Minimum Deposit at Registration: $2100

Remaining Balance due one month prior to the Business Voyage (July 11, 2012)

Includes:

Visa fees (assistance with visa application submission)

Round-trip airfare to Addis Ababa

Ground transportation for scheduled group events

Hotel accommodation and meals

Meeting & convention services

Use of office facilities

Group assistance

Tourist experience (Optional): Day tour and sightseeing to SODERE HOT SPRINGS. This spa town is famous for the natural hot springs and their therapeutic effects. Sodere lies alongside the Awash River and features lush, shady vegetation. Lively Verve monkeys live on the lush resort grounds.

Terms & Conditions:

Please note that the Business Voyage deposits are non-refundable due to the booking requirements with the airlines and trip service providers.

Registrations must be fully paid 30 days BEFORE departure and before any tickets are issued and/or visa arrangements are made.

DEPOSITS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.

Registrants who are inevitably absent for a legitimate reason may be permitted (at the sole discretion of the trip organizer) to apply the deposit towards a subsequent event.

Registered Export Path members get a $300 discount on this event. Group registrations are welcome.

All departures are from the WASHINGTON, DC area. Registrants are responsible for timely transit to and from the relevant departure/arrival airport(s) in the DC area. Assistance with travel & connection information shall be provided where possible.

A late registration fee of $150 applies for people registering within 30 days of departure because of the rush requirements for visa applications and travel arrangements. Registrants are encouraged to act in a timely manner.

Country Brief- Ethiopia

Geography

Lying in the north eastern part of Africa, Ethiopia is commonly referred to as the ‘Horn of Africa’. Ethiopia borders Kenya and Sudan to the south, Djibouti and Somalia to the east and Eritrea to the north. Addis Ababa is the capital city. Other major cities include Nazareth, Awassa, Bahir Dar, Dire Dawa, Mekelle and Jimma. Displaying forth varied landscapes, Ethiopia houses from the highest places such as the Semien Mountains to the lowest places such as the Danakil Depression.

The People/Language

Ethiopia is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million people, and the tenth-largest by area, with its 1,100,000 km². It boasts in its cultural diversity that constitutes about 80 different ethnic groups. From among the various languages, Amharic is the official language used by the Federal government. English is used as a medium of instruction in Secondary school and higher institutions. Ethiopia is one of a few African countries to have its own alphabet. Ethiopia also has its own time system and unique calendar, seven to eight years behind the Gregorian Calendar. It has the largest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Africa.

Climate/Weather

After an infamous tourism slogan, Ethiopia is known to enjoy 13 months of sunshine. Lying within 15 degree north of the equator, Ethiopia experiences varying degrees of temperature ranging from 0 degree in the highlands to 45 degrees Celsius in the lowlands, which makes it a pleasant habitat for various vegetation and species of animals. The country is a land of natural contrasts, with waterfalls and volcanic hot springs. Ethiopia has some of Africa's highest mountains as well as some of the world's lowest points below sea level. The largest cave in Africa is located in Ethiopia at Sof Omar. Ethiopia has one of the largest number of rivers in the world while the country's northernmost area at Dallol, Afar is the hottest place year-round anywhere on Earth

Economy

Ethiopia had a GDP of USD 17 billion (2007) with a real GDP growth of 9.6-9.8% (2007). Agriculture being the major economic driver, it constitutes 85% of employment, 45% of national income and over 90% of export earnings, followed by government and services and industry and construction. In 2010, Ethiopia continued to register the fast growth as it has for the last five years. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2010 (2009/10) remained strong at 8.8%. Growth is driven by the service sector (14.5%), followed by the industrial (10.2%) and agricultural (6%) sectors. Except for a rebound in fishing, the rest of the agricultural sub-sectors remained fundamentally unchanged from their levels in 2009. The service sector’s leading role is due to hotels and restaurants, financial intermediation, public services and real estate. The country continues to struggle with the macroeconomic challenges of high inflation and very low international reserves. The government’s five-year Growth and Transformation Plan was launched in 2010/11. If it is successful, the prospects for 2011 and 2012 are likely to be as positive as in 2010. The plan calls for the agriculture sector to become the major source of economic growth. Industrial growth will also be given particular attention. The government intends to promote industrialization through increased exports and import substitution. The economy is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 10% in 2011. The agriculture sector is expected to grow by 8.1% while industry and services are expected to show an average annual growth of 20 and 11% respectively during the planned five-year period of the government. (Retrieved from http://www.africaneconomicoutlook.org/en/countries/east-africa/ethiopia/ on July 18, 2011)

Commerce and Trade

Coffee, oilseed & pulses, cereals, hides, leather and gold are among the most important export items in Ethiopia, while food, petroleum and petroleum products, technology, chemicals, machinery and textiles are the main import items. Ethiopia is also the 10th largest producer of livestock in the world. Over the past years, major trading partners have been Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, US, Germany, China, Japan, Italy and India.

Tourism

The service industry in Ethiopia is mostly dominated by tourism, next to wholesale and retail trade, transportation and communication. Ethiopia is a home of various cultural and historical attractions that date back to over 3000 years. Ethiopia also prides herself in hosting some of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites such as the fortified historic town of Harrar Jugol, the rock-hewn churches of Lalibella and the Semien Mountains. Blessed with rich wildlife and vegetation, some only endemic to the country, the national parks are major attractions to tourists.

Areas of Investment for the August Business Voyage

Health Care, Pharmaceuticals, and Diagnostic Equipment

For the official investment outlook on Ethiopia,  click here.

Written by :

Administrator