ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Ethiopia to the Islamic Republic in Islamabad Jemal Beker Abdula on Friday said his country would bring Pakistan and Africa closer by connecting business communities of both countries through various initiatives.

Speaking with the business fraternity here at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), he said business persons from Pakistan and Africa needed to establish regular contact to boost trade, investment and tourism.

The Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia would take lead in increasing connectivity between them, he said, adding: “We will also hold business forums here in which the business community from Africa and Pakistan will be invited for working out ways to increase business and investment between the two areas.”

Ambassador Beker said the embassy had already taken the initiative of organising a 100-member business delegation to Ethiopia, which would bolster bilateral trade between the two countries, and increase Pakistan’s footprint in the markets of Africa.

The visit of the Pakistani business delegation to Ethiopia would be remembered as “Hijra Trade”, he said while calling the initiative “the most successful” in his life.

He said the business community from East African countries had been contacting him since the visit of the trade delegation and evincing interest in promoting trade with Pakistan.

“Africa is endowed with numerous natural resources and close cooperation of Pakistan with Ethiopia would help it get better penetration in the African region for trade and exports,” he said while pointing out the huge presence of Turkiye, United Arab Emirates (UAE), China and India’s business community in his country.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, president of ICCI said that Pakistan and Ethiopia should sign a Preferential Trade Agreement that would remove trade barriers and boost bilateral trade between Pakistan and Ethiopia.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2023