The government has attached due attention to the sector in a bid to improve the quality, quantity, and diversity of export items of the country in the international market.

Information and public relations office head with the ministry, Hailu Abebe told ENA on Wednesday that the nation secured 270.9 million US dollars from the sector over the past three months surpassing the set target for the stated period.

The amount of revenue secured during the reported time exceeded that of the previous year of the same period by 66.5 million US dollars, according to the head.

The official attributed the success to the attention of the government to the sector and the concerted efforts of the private sector.

The country was able to boost its annual revenue from the sector to 1.2 billion US dollars in 1999 E.C. from 1 billion US dollars during the preceding year, he said.

The nation envisages obtaining some 1.7 billion US dollars from the sector during the current budget year, he said, adding efforts were in progress to export value added products rather than raw materials.

He said coffee, oil seeds, chat, crops, leather and leather products, flowers, and gold constitute the major export items of the nation during the last three months.

The ministry in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other stakeholders is striving to improve the competitiveness of the sector at global market.

The government is to awarded outstanding individuals and organizations engaged in export trade on 3 Nov 2007.

R: 3:00-3:38

E- 5:34-5:51

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