Description

About the Book

This study on illegal trade in Ethiopia – the case of Jimma city is based on mixed research approaches. Empirical review of literature tries to explore the trading rules, social and cultural factors, economic factors, factors holding back Ethiopia’s trade performance, the legal and institutional framework of trade governance in Ethiopia, channels and sheds of the illegal import trade, and finally causes and consequences of the illegal trade in Ethiopia. Jimma city is taken as a case study because of its strategic location to collect the primary data via survey and interview. The findings revealed the significant presence of illegal trade of selected commodities in Jimma city between 2016 and 2020. The casual factors are a wide range of economic, institutional & regulatory, socio-cultural and personal conditions associated with it. The most notable effects of illegal trade are the loss of profit among the legal traders and a direct effect on the revenue of Jimma city besides others. Enacting inclusive and flexible trade rules, capacity building in the trade sector, improvement of the governance infrastructures, and sustainable awareness-raising activities are recommended to overcome the major constraints and to converge them into opportunities for both the city government and the traders in the study area. However, findings cannot be generalized to other cities even within Jimma with the changes in time and situation unless used to provide a general context. This book can be insightful and serve as a springboard for the future researchers.

About Authors

Prof. (Dr.) Minhaj Alam is an Indian Expatriate serving at the Department of Governance and Development Studies, College of Law and Governance, Jimma University. He is also the Editor-in-Chief of PanAfrican Journal of Governance and Development (PJGD) – An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jimma University, Ethiopia.

Fikadu T. Ayanie, PhD Candidate at Corvinus University of Budapest, Hungary, and Assistant Professor at the Department of Governance and Development Studies, Jimma University, Ethiopia.

Yezid Abagero is serving as the Head of Bureau of Employment Creation, and former Head of Bureau of Trade, Jimma City Administration. He has obtained his MBA from Rift Valley University, and BA in Governance and Development Studies, Jimma University, Ethiopia.

 Asna Mohammed is an Expert at the Department of Researches, Bureau of Trade, Jimma City Administration. She has MSc in Agribusiness and Value Chain Management, and BSc in Plant Sciences, both from Jimma University, Ethiopia.

Jemal Sali, Team Leader of Communication and Information Services at Bureau of Trade, Jimma City Administration. He has obtained MSc in Information Sciences and BSc in Computer Sciences, both from Jimma University, Ethiopia.

Izeddin Mohammed, Expert of Business Registry and Trade Licensing at the Bureau of Trade, Jimma City Administration. He has MA in Development Management, BA in Governance and Development Studies, both from Jimma University, Ethiopia.