Rawalpindi (TDI): A grand business forum was held at the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) on Wednesday to mobilize the business community for Pakistan’s Single Country Exhibition in Addis Ababa, scheduled for May 15-17, 2025.
The event was organized by the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce of Pakistan, the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), and the RCCI.
Dr. Jemal Beker, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary of Ethiopia, co-presided the event along with RCCI Usman Shaukat.
The event was attended Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan, Additional Secretary (Africa) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Chief Guest, while Nudrat Hussain, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, attended as the Guest of Honor.
The event witnessed a substantial participation from the business community interested in exploring business and investment opportunities in Africa, including Ethiopia.
Read More: Pakistan, Ethiopia to Hold Single Country Exhibition in Addis Ababa
On the occasion, Ambassador Dr. Jemal urged the business community to explore the considerable business, trade, and investment opportunities in Ethiopia as well as in Africa.
He underlined the potential benefits of participating in the Single Country Exhibition in Addis Ababa that coincides with the High-Level Business Forum ‘Invest in Ethiopia’, aimed at an international audience, which will also be arranged in Addis Ababa on May 12-13, 2025.
“These two events present an opportunity for the Pakistani businesspeople to participate in significant gatherings that will feature representation not only from their Ethiopian counterparts but also from across the entire Africa, a continent with a population of over 1.4 billion and possessing abundant natural resources,” the envoy remarked.
He also briefed them on the comparative advantages available to the Pakistani businesspeople in Ethiopia, including access to clean, green, and sustainable energy, affordable and skilled labor, the strategic location of Ethiopia, its large population, and the growing bilateral ties between Ethiopia and Pakistan.
He also mentioned Ethiopian government’s incentives for foreign investors, the ease of doing business, and dedicated industrial parks for fields like pharmaceuticals, textiles, and IT, among others in Ethiopia.
For his part, the RCCI President encouraged the business community to participate in the Single Country Exhibition, describing Ethiopia as a large market brimming with opportunities.
Read More: Pakistan, Ethiopia Collaborate on Exhibition, To Back Pakistani Investors
Ambassador Hamid Asghar Khan highlighted the need for Pakistani businesses to explore new markets, especially in Africa, underlining the continent’s huge population.
He also recalled his recent trips to African nations, including Ethiopia, noting the notable transformation the country has undergone under the leadership of Dr. Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
The Joint Secretary of the Commerce Ministry said that the Single Country Exhibition in Addis Ababa is being held under Pakistan’s ‘Look Africa’ and ‘Engage Africa’ policy.
She affirmed that the government of Pakistan is fully committed to strengthening its ties with African nations, including Ethiopia.
