The Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations is pleased to inform that the Board of Directors has appointed Ato Gashaw Debebe, the former diplomat, as the new Secretary General of ECCSA as of February 8, 2009.
Ato Gashaw Debebe is a highly qualified professional with an extensive experience in trade and investment promotion, policy formulation, bi-lateral, regional and multilateral trade negotiations, and international trade relations. Ato Gashaw has served, among others, as:
· Head of the Ethiopian Technical Trade Negotiation Team for the Ethio-Russia, Ethio-India, Ethio-Sudan, Ethio-Djibouti Inter-Ministerial Meeting,
· Chairman of the National Technical Committee for WTO Accession Negotiation of Ethiopia and Secretary of the National Committee,
· Head of Ethiopian Technical Team for the Port Utilization Agreement Negotiations with Djibouti,
· Ethiopian Focal Point for the World Trade Organization Integrated Framework (IF) Trade Related Technical Assistance Program for LDC’s
· Head of the study team that prepared the National Micro and Small Enterprises Dvelopment and Promotion Strategy,
· Board Member of the then Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce for seven years.
He has also participated in major bi-lateral, regional, multilateral meetings and conferences such as:
· 10th and 12th United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD XII),in Bangkok/Thailand, and Accra/Ghana,
· WTO Trade Ministers Meeting in Cancun/Mexico and Doha Qatar,
· African Trade Ministers Meeting on the WTO Doha Negotiations, Addis Ababa,
· Annual African, Caribbean and Pacific ( ACP) Group of states and the European Union trade ministers meeting, Brussels/Belgium
· First and second US and Sub-Sahara Africa Trade and Economic Cooperation Forum (AGOA I & II), Washington DC and Mauritius, just to mention few.
With regard to educational background, the new Secretary General has M.Sc in International Economic Relations and numerous international certificates including in:
· Macro-Economic Analysis for structural adjustment ( IWB) Harare, Zimbabwe
· World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade Policy, Geneva/ Switzerland
· General Export Marketing and Management (CBI of Netherlands), Addis Ababa
· WTO accession (UNCTAD), Geneva.
Prior to assuming his current post, Ato Gashaw Debebe has served as Consul General of Ethiopia in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai; and Economic Advisor to United Nations and the World Trade Organization at the Permanent Mission of Ethiopia to the United Nations, Geneva/Switzerland.
Above all, the new Secretary General has served at the Ministry of Trade and Industry for more than twenty years at different capacities including as Head of Policy and Planning Department and Head of Foreign Trade Department.
We are confident enough that Ato Gashaw Debebe would play a vital part in re-vitalizing the role of the national Chamber both locally and in the international arena. We have no the slightest doubt that the existing smooth relations with all stakeholders would be further enhanced in a way that ultimately contribute towards building a vibrant private sector and a prosperous Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations is very optimistic that your highly esteemed office will keep on closely working with ECCSA towards creating a win-win situation owing to the highly qualified Secretary General.