The Ethiopian government and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) signed a technical cooperation agreement for developing a strategy and transformation study of the Ethiopian Shipping & Logistics Services Enterprise (ESLSE) on February 07, 2013 in Geneva.

The agreement will enable UNCTAD, which was established in 1964, in order to provide technical assistance tailored to the specific requirements of developing countries, to offer support to the Ethiopian Government's extensive reform program including bolstering ESLSE's capacity with a state-of-the art shipping and logistics management and operation system.

UNCTAD will provide technical assistance and support the transformation of ESLSE into a more competitive, efficient and reliable institution in shipping, logistics and port and terminal services, according to the agreement.

The signing of the agreement, which will be implemented from March 2013 to December, 2013, follows extensive consultations held between the government of Ethiopia and UNCTAD officials, including discussions with UNCTAD officials during an official visit to Geneva by Ethiopia's Minister of Transport, Deriba Kuma. Deriba headed a delegation which included Ahmed Tusa, the head of ESLSE and Mekonnen Abera, director general of the Ethiopian Maritime Affairs Authority.