Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad announced that Ethiopia-Pakistan Business Forum would be held in Karachi during the second week of May. The forum has a goal of enhancing bilateral trade between Ethiopia and Pakistan.

According to Ambassador Jemal Beker, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, the forum will create strong links between Ethiopian and Pakistani business persons and the opportunity for investors to understand business opportunities which are available in the two countries.

It is to be recalled that a delegation of representatives of companies based in Pakistan visited Ethiopia last month. Business ties between Ethiopia and Pakistan have been growing in the past years. In February 2022, Islamabad’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry expressed its interest to conduct business with Ethiopian Investors and collaborate with the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Association during a meeting with Ambassador Redwan Hussein who was the State Minister of the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time. Similarly, in February this year Pakistani investors who were engaged in the pharmaceutical industry expressed their interest to invest in Ethiopia during a meeting with Ambassador Jemal Beker.

As an indication of the increased engagement between the two countries, Ethiopia established its Embassy in Pakistan in 2022. Ethiopia and Pakistan have also agreed to strengthen their relationships in several sectors. In this regard, Ethiopian Airlines started operating direct flights between Addis Ababa and Karachi in December 2022.

Ethiopia exports cereals, teal leaves, spices, and textiles to Pakistan while importing sugar products, rice, packaging bag, and medical supplies from Pakistan. The current annual trade value between Pakistan and Ethiopia is estimated to be between USD 7 million and USD 8 million. The countries have set a target to increase this trade value to USD 300 million per year.

Source: Fana BC and 2Merkato Archives

Image source: Fana BC