French Foreign Trade Minister Matthias Fekl expressed his country’s and French investors’ interest to invest more in Ethiopia.

Fekl came to Ethiopia with a delegation of about 40 French businesses, specifically small and medium-size businesses.

Matthias Fekl, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, the Promotion of Tourism and French Nationals Abroad, told the government officials and Ethiopian business community at the third French-Ethiopian business forum on Thursday, December, 17, 2015 that his country seeks a long-term partnership with Ethiopia.

The Minister has submitted the proposal to the Ethiopian government.

Ahmed Abitew, Ethiopia’s Minister of Industry, said “Ethiopia considers France as a viable business partner.”

Most of French companies are majorly concentrated in four sectors of investment; brewing, distribution of petroleum products, horticulture and hotel industry.

Ethiopia and France a year ago have ratified the bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement for encouraging and protecting investments.

Source: The Daily Monitor