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A high level business delegation from India made a visit to Addis Ababa last week. The delegation included representatives from 23 businesses many of whom were from the commercial capital of India, Mumbai.

Most of the businesses represented seem to be interested in capital intensive long term investment in a range of sectors such as sugar, energy, and mining.

The visit from the business delegation was organized through the Ethiopian Consulate in Mumbai.

Ethiopia shares the model of the Indian export driven economic strategy especially in light of the similar socio0economic and cultural settings shared by the two countries said Mulu Solomon, President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce, and Sectoral Association.

Ethiopian footwear manufacturer soleRebels has launched the first of a series of stand-alone retail stores in Kaoshinug, Taiwan, according to a company press release.

The opening of the store is an extremely exciting opportunity in a vibrant market allowing the brand to showcase it products said Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, Founder and Chief Executive of the company.

The opening of the store anchors the company in Asia which has a significant booming Asian retail footwear market according to the company press release. The company expects to open 30 soleRebels retail stores in Taiwan with three of these stores to be opened by the end of this year.

The Africa Fair Trade Convention is being held in Addis Ababa according to the Fair Trade Africa. The convention is being held over a period four days under the theme of ‘Equal Trade, Equal Development: Strengthening the Position of Producers in the Value Chain’ said the AFT.

The convention is the first of its kind to be held in Eastern Africa noted the organizers. The four day session will include more than thirty speakers who will present their papers on sustainable chains towards improving livelihood, the role of value chains to transform smallholding agricultural practices as well as other related topics.

It is expected that domestic coffee exporters and other stakeholders would attend the convention while 13 organic coffee exhibitions are prepared as part of the convention schedule it was announced.

Ethiopian Airlines launched thrice weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia from its base in Addis Ababa and flying through Bangkok.

The first Ethiopian Airlines flight arrived in Kuala Lumpur to warm welcome from Malaysian officials according to sources. The weekly flights will run on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.

The new flights to Kuala Lumpur are intended to connect Malaysian businesses to the significant opportunities available in Africa said Tewolde Gebremariam, Chief Executive of the airlines.