Ethiopia Bound Cargo Arrives At Berbera Port

Berbera, Somaliland , November 12, 2005 (SL Times) – A ship carrying a cargo of 55 containers bound for Ethiopia docked at Berbera port on Wednesday. The cargo which has been imported by the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation under a trade agreement signed between Somaliland and Ethiopia on last May, will be transported by Somaliland and Ethiopian vehicles to various destinations inside Ethiopia including Dire-Dawa, Addis Ababa , Mekele, Gojam and Kompuja.

On September last year, the Ethiopian government ordered its state enterprises to import their needs through the port of Berbera .

According to the Ethiopian government's representative in Somaliland , Mr. Abdeita Dirbissa, two more shipments of Ethiopian imported goods are expected to arrive at Berbera before the end of this month. Ethiopian imports will be transported by Somaliland and Ethiopian vehicles on the basis of business competitiveness.

Last Wednesday's cargo was brought in 40ft containers that most Somaliland vehicles are not technically fit to transport. Keen to give chance for Somaliland vehicles to take a better share of the transport business expected to be generated by Ethiopia's use of Berbera port for import/export operations, Ethiopian cargo receivers have indicated that in the future they will ask their agents to utilize 20ft containers for shipment of their orders.

As the Somaliland civilian vehicles will be allowed to transport the Ethiopian imported cargo to Ethiopia, a third party motor insurance cover is to be provided for Somaliland vehicles from Jigjiga to destinations in Ethiopian interior such as Dire-Dawa, Addis Ababa and Mekele at the rate of Birr 260 for a maximum period of 10days for round trip i.e. from Jigjiga to places where the goods are to be discharged and back to Jigjiga. The insurance from Jigjiga to Addis Ababa , Gojam, Mekele and Kampucha will be covered by Ethiopian Insurance and payable by Somaliland vehicle owners.

From Wajale border point up to Jigjiga, Somalilanders insisted on utilizing their traditional clan-based insurance to which the Ethiopian side agreed. Ethiopian vehicles are covered up to Berbera.

The launching of the Berbera corridor's trade link between Somaliland and Ethiopia , is expected to be celebrated on Sunday at a function that will be attended by officials from both countries.

The Berbera corridor is expected to provide significant potential for increased revenues in both Ethiopia and Somaliland .

Meanwhile the Ethiopian cargo was already unloaded by Thursday noon and the carrier vessel, a Singapore registered liner, left Berbera port on the same day.

Berbera's port manager Ali Mohamed Omer said his department is fully prepared to discharge its services efficiently.