ZCZC
BCN-04
ETHIOPIA-AFRICA-CHINA-BUSINESS-FORUM
Ethiopia to host high-level Sino-Africa business meeting next week
ADDIS ABABA, Nov. 25, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa
is set to host a high-level Africa-China Business Forum on Nov. 27 as
hundreds of Chinese companies are expected to take part at the meeting
creating ties with their Ethiopian and African counterparts.
The Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association, co-organizing
the high-level business meeting next week in partnership with China
International Exhibition Center (CIEC), said on Saturday that the gathering
is aimed at promoting trade and investment for mutual growth through
strengthened partnership.
According to the association, hundreds of Chinese companies that are
engaged in 29 different sectors are expected to take part at the meeting in a
bid to create partnership and joint-venture with their Ethiopian as well as
African counterparts.
Chinese companies engaged in the manufacturing of building materials,
engineering logistics, machinery, energy equipment, agricultural and food
processing products, environmental protection, trucks and auto parts, hotel
management, household materials, as well as nuclear power and nuclear
technology applications are said to be among the participants of the high-
level gathering.
Amid the Ethiopian government’s aspirations to attract foreign investors
in line with the East African country’s plan to be the manufacturing hub of
Africa by 2025, the engagement from Chinese companies in Ethiopia’s
investment landscape has been also augmenting over the years.
The East African country had licensed more than 1,290 Chinese investment
projects during the previous 2017-18 Ethiopian fiscal year that ended on July
8, according to figures from the Ethiopia Investment Commission (EIC).
Mekonen Hailu, Communications Director at EIC, told Xinhua recently that
the Chinese investment projects make up about 24.8 percent of the total
investment licenses the commission provides during the fiscal year.
“Chinese investment and capital comprise the largest investment inflow to
Ethiopia, with Chinese investors engaged in various sectors ranging from
agriculture, manufacturing and services sectors including hospitality and
tourism fields.” Hailu told Xinhua.
MORE/HR/0948
ZCZC
BCN-05
ETHIOPIA-AFRICA-CHINA-BUSINESS-FORUM 2 LAST ADDIS ABABA
On Friday, China’s Zhejiang province launched its liaison office with an
aim to promote and explore trade and investment opportunities in the country.
The liaison office was jointly launched by the Chinese Council for the
Promotion of International Trade Zhejiang Provincial Committee (CCPIT
Zhejiang) and China Chamber of International Commerce Zhejiang Chamber of
Commerce (CCOIC).
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Ethiopian State Minister of Foreign
Affairs Aklilu Hailemichael said that “the trade and investment relations
between our two countries have been growing over the years.”
“Chinese companies have significantly invested in Ethiopia during the last
two decades creating job opportunities for a large number of Ethiopians,”
Hailemichael said.
“My country also expects even more through the Belt and Road initiative
that China launched with a focus on economic cooperation and connectivity
among nations,” he added.
BSS/XINHUA/HR/0950