Addis ababa: The Ethiopian Customs Commission (ECC) announced that it has collected 738.14 billion Birr in revenue in the just-ended Ethiopian fiscal year. In a press briefing to the media, Commissioner Debele Qabeta elaborated on the operational breakthrough that drove the commission's fiscal success.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Commissioner Debele Qabeta shared insights into the commission's achievement during the implementation of the 2018 fiscal year plan. The commission had initially targeted 725.27 billion Birr for the fiscal year but exceeded this benchmark, collecting 738.14 billion Birr. This was attributed to highly optimized collection strategies.
The revenue was primarily generated from import-export duties, trade tariffs, and other specialized revenue-linked operations managed by the commission. The commissioner emphasized that the commission successfully executed its core mandates, which include securing rightful customs duties and taxes, disrupting illicit smuggling networks, and facilitating smoother logistical pathways for national exports.
The surge in revenue was also credited to supportive government macroeconomic policies, aggressive institutional reforms, and the extensive digitization of customs clearance and auditing processes. Throughout the budget year, the commission intensified its anti-smuggling operations, effectively curbing revenue loss to illicit trade pipelines.
The commission's efforts in intercepting illegal contraband saved over 380 billion Birr worth of national wealth from illicit diversion. This success was achieved through coordinated joint operations with various security and regulatory stakeholders, as highlighted by Commissioner Debele Qabeta.