Penny Pritzker, US Secretary of Commerce, said her country has made plans to open a trade liaison office in the capital of Ethiopia in order to facilitate commercial ties with Ethiopia.

Pritzker told President Mulatu Teshome her country is keen to strengthen the two nations’ trade relations. She added the opening of the office will boost the bilateral trade relations. In addition to this, she said, it will help to jointly solve commerce related problems.

The Secretary further noted US investors are interested in investing in Ethiopia’s renewal energy.

On his part Mulatu said Ethiopia is eager to boost the long standing diplomatic relation of the two countries. He added the economic and trade ties should also be strengthened.

Mulatu also raised the need to extend the AGOA program which provides African countries with the opportunity to export their products to the U.S without any tax. The program will expire in 2015, according to the current schedule.

Mulatu said Ethiopia has not fully utilized this opportunity for different reasons. But now Ethiopia has been building its capacity over the past years in order to compete in the international market and took other measures, it will be able to export more quality products to the U.S.

Source: The Ethiopian Herald