Over 19 million U.S. dollars have been secured from the export of various agricultural products to neighboring Sudan during the just-ended Ethiopian fiscal year, customs officers said on Saturday.

Over 420,000 quintals of oil seeds and cereals, 339,000 quintals of ginger, 262 quintals of incense and 11,868 live animals were exported to Sudan via Ethiopia's northern border town of Metema during the just-ended fiscal year (July 8, 2005-July 7, 2006), said Endalkachew Asfawossen, a senior customs officer with the Ethiopian Customs Authority.

Endalkachew told journalists that the revenue grew 8.2 million dollars over a year ago.

He attributed the success to the provision of efficient customs services to investors in the region, an increase in the volume and diversity of export items and trade relation between Ethiopia and Sudan.

Meanwhile, Endalkachew said 42,770 packs of writing materials and soap, 4,293 quintals of salt and other goods were imported into the country via Metema town during the reported period.

Source: Xinhua