LAHORE: The Embassy of Ethiopia in collaboration with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on Thursday organized an “Ethio-Pakistan Business Forum” at the LCCI Headquarters to encourage the business community to participate in the trade delegation to Ethiopia coordinated by the Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad from May 26 to 31.
A large number of members of the business community participated in the “Ethio-Pakistan Business Forum” from diverse economic sectors including manufacturing, fertilizer, pharmaceutical, surgical, textile, agriculture, chemicals, construction, tourism and ICT.
Upon arrival, Special Envoy and Ambassador of Ethiopia to Pakistan Jemal Beker Abdula was accorded a warm welcome by the LCCI President Kashif Anwar and his team.
Addressing the business forum, the ambassador highlighted business, trade and investment opportunities in the diverse economic sectors of Ethiopia which underwent home-grown economic reforms led by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
He urged the business community of Lahore to join the trade delegation of the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad and explore trade, business, and investment opportunities in the land of origins and opportunities.
The envoy lauded the Government of Pakistan for launching the Look Africa and Engage Africa policy to enhance its ties especially trade with Africa which is a market of over 1.4 billion people.
Ethiopia a Gateway to Africa
Ethiopia is a gateway to Africa, he said while underlining the Enter and Operate in Africa through Ethiopia Initiative of the Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad to help the business community of Pakistan to connect with their counterparts in Africa.
He said that last year in March, the Ethiopian Embassy mobilized over 75 Pakistani businessmen to visit Ethiopia to help them foster connections with their counterparts there.
Resultantly, more than fifty businessmen and industrialists from Ethiopia visited Pakistan in May 2023 to boost the bilateral trade between the two nations.
Jemal Beker said that Ethiopian Airlines had started its operations in Karachi in 2023 which enabled the business community of Pakistan to enter and operate in Africa.
LCCI President Kashif Anwar commended the economic development in Ethiopia.
He also assured the envoy of the full support of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce in making the planned trade and business delegation to Ethiopia successful.
