The Ministry of foreign affairs stated that a symposium aimed at increasing trade and investment ties between Ethiopia and China was opened in Addis Ababa yesterday. Ato Anteneh Alemu, Deputy Commissioner of Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC), said Ethiopia wanted more Chinese companies to invest in priority sectors adding that the Chinese investors would be provided with all the necessary support from the Ethiopian government.

The conference is co-organized by ECCSA, Ethiopian Embassy in Beijing, EIC and China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and for Electronic Products (CCCME).

Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA) Deputy Secretary-General Wube Mengistu said the conference, which brought 12 Chinese companies and over 26 Ethiopian business firms together, was a viable platform to bolster cooperation on trade and investment and that it encouraged Chinese companies to invest in Ethiopia. He noted, despite lack of diversification, Ethiopia exports coffee, oil seeds and leather to China.

A Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen trade and investment ties between Ethiopia and China is signed between CCCME and EIC.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency