A Public-Private Dialogue Forum (PPDF) was nearing formation last week after negotiations between the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) and the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA). The purpose of the forum is to increase cooperation between the government and the private sector. To establish the PPDF the ministry and the chamber held lengthy talks while a joint taskforce worked on the institutional structure of the new body. The establishment of the forum should lead to the growth of private business and investment in the country, according to a sector expert. In addition, it will encourage the private sector to get involved in different areas of governmental policy and procedures.
The public-private dialogue process will include identifying problems, creating working groups to devise solutions, and presenting solutions to the government at the forums. The discussions are to take place every three months, with the fourth event expected to be chaired by the prime minister. The others are expected to be co-chaired by the minister of trade and industry and president of the chamber.
According to a national chamber board member, finishing the negotiations was a good achievement and should lead to benefits for the private sector. Included in the agreement is for the private sector to talk with government agencies to discuss difficulties the private sector has encountered, which will eventually lead to new legislation being proposed. However, according to a source, the details of this are yet to be worked out.
Representatives from various sectoral associations, chambers of commerce and from government bodies involved in investment and private sector activity will make up the rest of the membership. Forums with a similar role and composition are expected to also be formed in the regions. The national and Addis Ababa chambers of commerce have said in the past that the best way to create a favorable business and investment atmosphere is through dialogue and mutual understanding.
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