The Ethiopian Revenue and Customs Authority (ERCA) is expecting to take delivery of cargo scanning and x-ray machines as well as sensitivity cameras worth 28 million dollars within the next four to six months, a senior official disclosed. The machines were ordered from China and some are now in the manufacturing process, according to Melaku Fenta, director general of the authority. The financing has also been granted by the Chinese government, Melaku said.
The fixed cargo scanning machines are expected to be installed in Mettema, Humera, Galaffi, Dawela and Moyale branches. This would enable the ERCA to validate the imports and exports of the country by checking the declaration of the importer or exporter, according to the director general. There are also going to be mobile cargo scanning machines which will enable the authority’s officer to check cargo on trucks, while x-ray machines for passengers’ luggage and cargo will be installed at the airports of Bahir Dar, Mekelle, Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa, potential import and export hubs. The first two airports are under expansion with the construction of facilities such as cold rooms for export goods like flowers, fruits, vegetables and animal products.
“We will no longer need to search luggage manually,” Melaku told Fortune. “This will save processing time as there will no longer be any need to open and search luggage.” The sensitivity cameras, which will enable monitoring of the movement of customs officers and clients, will, according to Melaku, help control the actions of individuals and customs officers to make sure that work is going according to the rules.
[Fortune]