Sialkot (TDI): The Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Oumer Hussein Oba, visited the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) to discuss growing bilateral trade and investment, on Tuesday.
The Ambassador Oba was accompanied by Economic Officer Kalkidan Tesdesae, he highlighted that Ethiopia offers significant opportunities for Pakistani businessmen under its Homegrown Economic Reforms.
The SCCI President Syed Ahtesham Mazhar, along with Senior Vice President Muhammad Murad Arshad and Vice President Salman Sheikh welcomed the delegation to explore new business-to-business (B2B) linkages.
The visit is part of a broader effort to strengthen economic relations through direct engagement with the Sialkot business community.
The Ambassador Oba praised Sialkot’s industrial excellence in surgical, sports and leather goods acknowledging that these sectors could find a large market in East Africa.
On May 12th, 2026, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Oumer H. Oba holds a business dialogue with 🇵🇰’s @sccisialkot. He along with the Embassy team briefed them about multiple opportunities in diverse economic sectors of #Ethiopia, its market potential, and regional connectivity.
The… pic.twitter.com/YHQXdTHd8J
— Ethiopian Embassy Islamabad (@ETEmbassyISB) May 12, 2026
The discussions focused on Ethiopia’s competitive advantages including affordable green energy and a large workforce.
Ambassador Oba emphasized that Ethiopia’s strategic location makes it an ideal gateway for Pakistani exports to the African continent.
The large part of the current diplomatic push focuses on moving beyond traditional ties toward measurable economic outcomes.
Ambassador Oba has been meeting with various chambers to gain support for new trade agreements in agriculture, manufacturing and ICT. This situation is further involved by the need for more regular exchange of trade delegations to explore emerging markets.
On the same day, the delegation visited Sialkot International Airport, where they were received by Vice Chairman SIAL, Waqas Afzal and the airport’s executive leadership. Ambassador Oba highlighted that enhancing air freight and cargo connectivity is essential for boosting trade.
A pleasure to visit #Sialkot International Airport to explore promising avenues for aviation cooperation between 🇪🇹🇵🇰.
Our discussions focused on establishing institutional linkages to streamline cargo and passenger travel between Sialkot, #AddisAbaba and beyond.
Appreciate their… pic.twitter.com/mwYd2gngaW— Dr. Oumer H. Oba (Ambassador) (@ObaOumer) May 13, 2026
The discussions focused on a proposal for a dedicated air corridor and the potential for Ethiopian Airlines operations at SIAL to link Sialkot directly with Addis Ababa.
Ambassador Oba mentioned that turning this vision into execution is necessary to realize Pakistan’s untapped export potential.
This diplomatic and commercial engagement marks a major point in the growing relationship between Addis Ababa and Islamabad.
Ambassador Oba further highlighted that Ethiopia is ready to provide all necessary support to Pakistani investors to ensure a smooth business experience in its industrial parks. The SCCI leadership shared that local exporters are keen to utilize Ethiopia as a primary hub for African trade.
Both nations continue to work toward shared economic prosperity through these developing South-South partnerships and enhanced aviation linkages.
Muhammad Usman Hashmi is a researcher in International Relations, focusing on climate diplomacy, global governance, and political economy in the Global South. He has contributed to policy dialogues with the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia and serves as a Senior Research Fellow at the International Council on Human Rights, Peace and Politics. He is also associated with Rethinking Economics Islamabad, contributing to research on development and sustainability.
