The Ethiopian Maritime Authority is considering allowing foreign companies to train and send Ethiopian professionals abroad to work in the maritime industry.

This was disclosed while the Ministry of Transport and Logistics, and institutions accountable to the ministry, including the Authority, presented their six-month performance report to Parliament this week.

Abdulber Shemsu, director-general of the Authority, told MPs there are a number of projects in the pipeline to grow Ethiopia’s human capital in the maritime industry, including plans to generate foreign currency by sending Ethiopian professionals to fill market needs abroad.

Abdulber envisions working with licensed private agencies to train and expatriate these professionals. However, the legal framework that would allow these agencies to operate does not exist.

The Authority is looking to include a provision that would provide the legal basis for its plans in the Ethiopian Overseas Employment Proclamation, which was introduced to lawmakers in 2021 by the Ministry of Labor.

However, this bill is primarily concerned with training and sending household workers abroad, mainly to Gulf countries, through agencies recognized by the Labor Ministry.

The other option would be to introduce a new, separate proclamation that would allow the training and expatriation of professional manpower.

“We are discussing which alternative is better. We will decide soon,” said an official at the Authority.

The Authority is looking to allow foreign companies to handle the training and expatriation of maritime professionals, as domestic maritime agencies do not have the level of experience necessary, according to the official.

Although the overseas employment proclamation accommodates all types of professional work, maritime professionals have needs not covered in the bill, said the official.

“For instance, workers going to Gulf countries work based in a permanent place—a house. But maritime professionals go around the globe and do not work permanently in one place. Special legislation is required,” said the official.

The Ministry’s report indicates that Ethiopia generated USD 37 million from maritime professionals employed abroad over the last six months.