Ethiopia-China Business Forum Aims to Strengthen Bilateral Relations Kicks off in Addis Ababa 

Addis Ababa, August 1/2024(ENA) The Ethiopia-China Business Forum is being held today at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa in the presence of Ethiopian high-level officials and the business community, as well as members of Ethiopia-China Friendship Committee. 

The forum aims to strengthen relations through business and investment, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mesagnu Arga noted in his remarks highlighting the recently signed All Weather Strategic Partnership and Chinese private sector FDI strides.

Ethiopia-China Friendship and Cooperation Committee Chair Betty Xu emphasized Ethiopia and China’s shared vision of industrialization, highlighting significant investment opportunities in mining, energy, construction, manufacturing, and home appliances. 

Deputy Mayor Zhang Dianhu of Rizhao City and Vice Chairman Zhang Renghui of the Jiaxing Municipal People's Congress Standing Committee have also expressed interest in working with Ethiopian companies. 

They stated that Ethiopia's recent reforms, such as a change in the foreign exchange system and the removal of restrictions on foreigners in certain sectors, will boost Chinese investment in the country.

President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association, Sebsib Abafira emphasized the country's strong trade and investment ties with China. 

CEO of the Industrial Parks Development Corporation Fiseha Yitagesu on his part emphasized the organization's one-stop shops for electricity, banks, and waste treatment technology, as well as policy frameworks such as duty-free imports and export promotion schemes.

The forum marked the unveiling of the Ethiopia-China Friendship and Cooperation Committee's Light-up Villages program and the signing of an agreement with representative enterprises of the three consortiums that are working in Ethiopia.