Islamabad, 21 February 2022 (TDI): State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ethiopia, Redwan Hussain Rameto said that an Ambassador was being assigned to Pakistan and soon a full-fledged embassy would also be opened here to promote trade and economic relations between both countries.
Meeting with Bussiness Community
While addressing the business community at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), he said a press release was issued on Friday. Redwan Hussain Rameto said that Ethiopia was considering providing a visa on arrival facility to Pakistani businessmen so that they could easily visit his country to explore business opportunities.
He said that flight resumption between Ethiopia and Pakistan was also under consideration to improve people-to-people contacts and trade relations.
He said that Ethiopia was importing 80% of pharmaceutical products and Pakistani pharma sector investors should set up JVs in Ethiopia to meet the needs of its market and export to African countries.
He said that Ethiopia provided a 10-year tax holiday to investors in its SEZs and that Pakistani investors should capitalize on these opportunities. He highlighted pharma, garments, textiles, cement, ICT as major areas of potential cooperation between Ethiopia and Pakistan.
Speaking at the occasion, President ICCI, Muhammad Shakeel Munir, said that Pakistan has made a Look Africa Policy to explore the huge untapped region of Africa for trade and exports and close cooperation between Pakistan and Ethiopia would help it in getting better access to the African market.
He said that Pakistan was producing high-quality surgical and pharmaceutical products and stressed that Ethiopia should facilitate Pakistani pharmaceutical companies for registration in its market by lowering registration costs that would facilitate the export of our surgical and pharmaceutical products to Ethiopia and through it to other African countries.
He said that Pakistan could export many other products to Ethiopia including marble & granite, cement, leather products, rice, sports goods, and stressed that the opening of an embassy of Ethiopia in Pakistan was very important to promote trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Senior Vice President, Jamshaid Akhtar Sheikh and Vice President ICCI, Muhammad Faheem Khan said that Pakistan and Ethiopia should consider negotiating a preferential or free trade agreement to promote trade relations up to their actual potential.
They said that both countries should encourage the regular exchange of trade delegations to explore all potential areas of mutual cooperation. Chairman Founder Group, Khalid Iqbal Malik, Mian Shaukat Masud, Zafar Bakhtawari, Zahid Maqbool, Fatima Azim, and others also spoke at the occasion and gave useful suggestions to improve trade and economic relations between Pakistan and Ethiopia.
Meeting with Prime Minister
Later, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Ambassador Redwan Hussien called on Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi separately in Islamabad and discussed matters related to bilateral ties.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, H.E. Ambassador @RedwanHussien met Prime Minister of #Pakistan, H.E. Imran Khan. Ambassador Redwan delivered a message to the Prime Minister on behalf of Ethiopian Prime Minister H.E. Abiy Ahmed Ali. https://t.co/VHDmAv3PVh pic.twitter.com/M7StgAu078
— MFA Ethiopia🇪🇹 (@mfaethiopia) February 22, 2022
Ambassador Hussien delivered a formal message to the Prime Minister on behalf of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, including the invitation to visit Ethiopia.
The Prime Minister underscored that Pakistan highly valued its long-standing ties with Ethiopia and stressed the importance of further increasing trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.
Meeting with Foreign Minister
Earlier, the visiting dignitary of Ethiopia visited the foreign office and called on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.
The first day of my two days visit to Pakistan has been successful. I met H.E Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi,and H.E. Amb. Sohail Mahmood, State Minister. Touched up on vital issues and held political consultation. Heralded the decision of opening embassy in Islamabad pic.twitter.com/GJtA1fD99F
— Redwan Hussien (@RedwanHussien) February 21, 2022
Noting the long history of fraternal ties and close cooperation between the two countries, the Foreign Minister said that Pakistan wanted to explore new avenues for collaboration between Pakistan and Ethiopia.
Ambassador Hussien thanked the Government of Pakistan for its hospitality and reaffirmed Ethiopia’s desire for further enhancing bilateral ties, especially in the trade and economic realms.
Meeting with Foreign Secretary
The Bilateral Political Consultations between Pakistan and Ethiopia, held in Islamabad, reviewed the full gamut of bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood led the Pakistan side while Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia Ambassador Redwan Hussien, who is on an official visit to Pakistan, led the Ethiopian delegation.
The Foreign Secretary reiterated that Pakistan attached high importance to its relations with Ethiopia and looked forward to exploring new areas for mutually beneficial cooperation, particularly in the economic, trade, and agricultural domains.
He welcomed Ethiopia’s decision to open its Embassy in Islamabad.
The Foreign Secretary highlighted Pakistan’s “Engage Africa” vision aimed at deepening political, trade, economic, investment, cultural, and security engagement with the African Continent.
Ambassador Hussien said Ethiopia’s decision to establish its diplomatic presence in Islamabad is a reflection of the importance it attached to strengthening its engagement with Pakistan.
