A delegation of business and government representatives from the Czech Republic and a member of the International Chamber of Commerce held discussions with the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations on bilateral trade and investment opportunities in Ethiopia.
The economic policies adopted by the governments of the two countries in the last 20 years have served to promote direct trade between the business communities in the two countries said Gebrehiwot Gebreegzihber member of the ECCSA board of Directors.
As consequence of such policies the trade between the two countries has grown from just 312 thousand US dollars in 2004 to more than 12 million US dollars this year he said.
Ethiopia is a country of great investment potential in a range of sectors including in agriculture, manufacturing, industry, and livestock said Gebrehiwot calling upon Czech investors to take advantage of the opportunities available.The business communities in the two countries should aggressively work to enhance trade and investment relations by organizing information sharing schemes, business to business forums, trade fairs and the like he noted.
Several Czech investors are already engaged in projects in Ethiopia according to Tomas Dub, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic. The Czech Republic is committed to strengthening relations with Ethiopia and Africa he added.
The two countries can particularly develop ties in the areas of technology and Science and the Republic is offering scholarships to Ethiopians through its institutions of higher learning with a view of enhancing bilateral relations said Dub.
The basic objective of the visit is to bolster investment co-operation and to develop trade relations said Jan Chvlakoska, Member of the International Chamber of Commerce.
Source: Ethiopian Herald
