About Ethiopia

Country Name: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE)
Political System: Federal State with Multi-Party Democracy
Chief of State: President Dr. Mulatu Teshome
Head of Government: Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn
Cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives

Location
Ethiopia is strategically located in the Horn of Africa, west of Somalia 8 00 N, 38 00 E bordered by the Sudan(1,606 km )on the west, Somalia(1,626 km) and Djibouti(337 km) on the East, Eritrea(912 km) on the North and Kenya (830 km ) on the South. It has proximity to the Middle East and Europe, covers an area of 1.14 million square Kilometers 9 44,000 square miles

Entry Point by Air
Bole International Airport, Addis Ababa- and Regional Cities includes-Dire Dawa, Bahar Dar, Gondar, Lalibela, Axum, Arba Minch, and Mekele.

Entry Point by Rail
Dewele on the Djibouti border. Arrivals undergo full customs and immigration checks. The rail way, under construction

Entry Point by Road
Moyale (from Kenya), Humera And Metema (from Sudan), and Dewele (from Dijibouti) and Humera,Rama and Bure (from Eritera). All have full customs and immigration checks.

Communications

Telephone, telex, fax, internet and air mail services connect Addis Ababa to all parts of the world. Services are available at the General Post Office and its many branches, as well as in the main hotels. International direct dialing is available from all major centers.

Major Cities includes: Addis Ababa, Dire Dawa, Nazret, Harer, Mekele, Jima, Desi, Bahir Dar, Jijiga, Assosa , Hawassa , Debre,Zeyit

Population: 86.5 million

Economic Considerations
GDP 31.7 Billion Birr
GDP Per Capital (FCY) USD 392

Ethiopia is predominantly agricultural country with over 80 percent of its population farming on about 15 - 20 percent of the arable land. The agricultural sector in 2010/2011 accounts for 41% of the GDP and 80 percent of export earnings.

The industrial sector including small and medium enterprises (SMEs) account for about 13.4% of GDP. The service sector comprises of social services, trade, hotel and restaurants fiancé and real estate and other includes for about 45.6% of GDP.

Major Agricultural Products: Cereals, Coffee, oilseeds, Cotton, tobacco

Major Exports: Fruits, spices, meat and meat products, vegetables, chat, Live animals, Gold, oilseeds, livestock & textile.

Major Imports: Agricultural inputs, Machinery& equipments, Pharmaticulas & chemicals, Metal products, food grains.

Major countries of import includes: China(9%), Saudi Arabia(6.8%), united Arab Emirates(5.4%), Japan(4.5%), Italy(3.4%), USA(2.3), Germany(1,8%), Sudan(1.7%), France(1.2%), u.K(1.1%) Kenya(0.4), Russia(0.3%), and the rest of the world(46.7).

Currency
The local currency is the Ethiopian Birr, made up of 100 cents. Notes are issued in denominations of 1,5-10-50, and 100 birr. There are five different coins: 1-,5-10-25, and 50 cents.

Public holidays
Ethiopians observe the following public holidays: Christmas (January 7, 2005); Epiphany (January 19, 2005*); Feast of the Sacrifice/Eid al Adha (January 21, 2005*); Battle of Adowa (March 2, 2005); Birth of the Prophet/Mouloud (April 21, 2005*); Good Friday (April 29, 2005*); May Day (May 1, 2005); Easter Monday (May 2, 2005*); Patriots’ Victory Day (May 5, 2005); Downfall of the Derg (May 28, 2005); New Year’s Day (September 11, 2005*); Feast of the True Cross (September 27, 2005*); End of Ramadan/Eid al Fitr (November 4, 2005*). Asterisks indicate holidays with variable dates according to either the Islamic or Orthodox calendar.

Communications
Telephone, telex, fax, internet and air mail services connect Addis Ababa to all parts of the world. Services are available at the General Post Office and its many branches, as well as in the main hotels. International direct dialing is available from all major centers in the country.

Language
Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic state with a great variety of languages spoken out of which 83 have over 200 dialects. Amharic is the working language of the Federal Government. English is widely spoken particularly in the business transactions. Moreover, the major languages includes, Amharic, Oromo, Tigrinya, Somali

Religion
Major religions in the country are Christianity and Islam. But there are a number of traditional religions as well. One prominent feature of Ethiopia is religious tolerance that exists among different groups.
Regional Administrations of the Federal Government

(Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa, Gambela, Hareri , Oromiya), (Somali), Tigray, (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples)
Topography

Ethiopia’s topography consists of a central high plateau bisected by the Ethiopian segment of the Great Rift Valley into northern and southern highlands and surrounded by lowlands, more extensive on the east and southeast than on the south and west. The plateau varies from 1,500 to 3,000 meters above sea level and features mountainous uplands separated by deep gorges and river valleys, especially in the north. The highest point is Ras Dashen at 4,620 meters in the northern highlands. In the east, the Denakil Depression, part of the Rift Valley, is in places 115 meters below sea level and is one of the hottest places on earth. A chain of lakes lie in the southern Rift Valley, but the largest inland body of water is Lake Tana in the northwest.


Cultural Attractions

Ethiopia, an old country beyond all imaginations, has culture and traditions dating back over 3000 years, with over 80 different ethnic groups having their own language, culture and traditions. The strong religious setting, celebrations and festivals play an important part in every ones daily life. Church ceremonies are a major feature of Ethiopian life. The events are impressive and unique. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has its own head, follows its own customs, and is extremely proud of its fourth century origins.

Ethiopia’s Islamic tradition is also strong and offers colorful contrast, particularly in the eastern and south-eastern parts of the country. In fact, there were Ethiopian Muslims during the lifetime of Prophet Mohammed. This rich religious history is brought to life in the romantic walled city of Harar, considered by many Muslims to be the fourth “Holy City” following Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem.

Calendar & Working Hours
Ethiopia uses the Julian calendar which divides the year in 12 months of 30 days each, with the remaining five (or six days in a leap year) constituting the short 13th month of Pagume. In Greek Pagume means "Additional". The Ethiopian New Year commences on the 10th or 11th of September every year.

Ethiopia is in the GMT +3time zone. Business hours vary according to the nature of the business. Normally government office and most other office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 P.m. to 5:30 p.m. from Monday through Thursday. Working hours on Friday are 8:30Am to 11:30Am and 1:30pm to 5:30pm..

Climatic Conditions
Although Ethiopia lies within 15 degrees North of the Equator, owing to the moderating influence of high altitude, the country enjoys moderate temperature and pleasant climate, with average temperature rarely exceeding 20oc (68oF). The sparsely populated lowlands typically have sub–tropical and tropical climates. At approximately 850mm (34inches), the average annual rainfall for the whole country is considered to be moderate by global standards. In most of the high lands, rainfall occurs in two distinct seasons: the “small rains” during February and March and the “big rains” from June to September.

  Contact Details

Address: Chamber Of Commerce & Sectoral Associations Building, 6th Floor, 603 - 612 Mexico Road.

Phone: +251 115 520134/ 520135 / 542144 / 520134 /520076 / 118 505025

Mobile:+251 911 450912

Fax:+251 115 520046

P.O.Box: 42735, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Email: info@ethiocsa.net ethiopiancsa@ethionet.et

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