Daily Times

Special Envoy, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) in Pakistan, Dr Jemal Beker Abdula on Thursday urged the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) to take part in the Single-Country Exhibition, scheduled for May next year in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Presiding over the Pakistan-Ethiopia business forum along with RCCI President Usman Shaukat at the RCCI, the ambassador said it is high time for the business community of Pakistan to enter and operate in Africa through Ethiopia which gives a seamless and swift access to the continent of over 1.4 billion people. He said the Ethiopian Airlines had already started its operations in Pakistan, boosting its connectivity with the whole Africa which is a continent of hope, brimming with lucrative business, trade and investment opportunities.

The ambassador said Ethiopia is the fastest growing economy in Africa, registering an economic growth of 8.1 per cent in the last year, and aiming for 8.4 per cent in the current year. Ethiopia gives a comparative advantage to the business community of Pakistan in terms of cheap, clean and green energy and quality human resource, he added.

“Our doors are opened and the people of Ethiopia are looking forward to welcome their brothers from Pakistan,” he said, while highlighting the business, trade and investment opportunities in major economic sectors including agriculture and agro processing, manufacturing, mining, tourism and ICT. The ambassador said the Ethiopian government led by Dr Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, had introduced substantive foreign policy, economic and legal reforms which has not only made Ethiopia an investment hub, but also increased its outreach across the globe. On the occasion, RCCI President Usman Shaukat provided an overview of RCCI’s ongoing initiatives and highlighted Ethiopia’s potential as a valuable market for Pakistan’s non-traditional exports, particularly in pharmaceuticals, agri-food, and IT services.

He assured the ambassador that a delegation of RCCI would take part in the Single Country Exhibition which would further enhance the bilateral trade between the two countries. The president said the RCCI would coordinate with the Ethiopian Embassy in this regard, strengthening the RCCI’s active role in promoting Pakistan’s “Look Africa” policy. He noted that mutual trade delegations are essential for building networking opportunities and expanding trade cooperation between the two nations.