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Islamabad(PR). Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan Jemal Beker Abdula visited the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FPCCI) Capital Office in Islamabad and called on Vice President FPCCI Umar Masood ur Reham, Convenor, Syed Asad Mashadi. They discussed wide-ranging trade, industry, and commercial avenues of cooperation, investments, and joint ventures, On behalf of the business and trading community. Mr. Jamal Beker Abdula, Ethiopian ambassador, said that a preferential trade agreement between Pakistan and Ethiopia is indispensable for the promotion of mutual trade. “Bilateral trade between the two countries is minimal and amounts (only) to $78 million; however, my target is to take it to $300 million by the end of 2023. Pakistani textiles, medicines, and other products will have more space in the Ethiopian market.
The Ethiopian ambassador, Mr. Jamal Beker Abdula, remarked that the world should not see Pakistan through a Western media lense. Pakistan is a peaceful, culturally rich, and diversified country with immensely strong social values and huge economic potential, he remarked. He stressed the bilateral trade relations, and stated that Ethiopia is an attractive market for Pakistani agricultural, pharmaceutical, and technological products while Ethiopia is critical to Pakistan’s food security in terms of import of pulses, chickpeas and red kidney beans. He urged Pakistani businessmen to explore Ethiopia’s potentially lucrative markets.
Abdullah said that Ethiopia wants to establish strong economic relations with Pakistan, and there are vast opportunities for Pakistan to promote exports with Africa. “Pakistani textiles, pharmaceuticals and other products are in great demand in Ethiopia, Pakistan’s business community must try to take full advantage of the opportunities.” He said that Pakistani textiles, medicines, and other products will have more space in the Ethiopian market. He said that confidence-building measures would be taken for Pakistani traders so that trade between the two countries could go to the next level.
on the occasion, Vice President FPCCI Umar Masood ur Rehman said that Pakistan and Ethiopia should sign a preferential trade agreement to improve mutual trade adding that the agreement will significantly improve bilateral trade. He said that Pakistan has made a Look Africa Policy to explore huge untapped region of Africa for trade and exports and close cooperation between Pakistan and Ethiopia would helpful in getting better access to African market. He said that many Pakistani products including marble & granite, pharmaceuticals, cement, leather, rice and sports goods can find a good market in Ethiopia and urged the Ethiopia to focus on Pakistan for imports. He urged that Pakistan and Ethiopia to consider negotiating a preferential or free trade agreement to promote trade relations up to their actual potential. He said that both countries should encourage regular exchange of trade delegations to explore all potential areas of mutual cooperation. He further said that FPCCI would like to work closely with the Ethiopian Embassy to promote business relations between Pakistan and Ethiopia.
Vice President FPCCI said that the true potential for bilateral trade is much higher in Pakistan & Ethiopia. He suggested preferential or free trade agreement to promote trade relations up to their actual potential. Many Pakistani products including marble & granite, pharmaceuticals, cement, leather, rice, and sports goods can find a good market in Ethiopia and urged Ethiopia to focus on Pakistan for imports.
He said that investment cooperation is other area in which both countries could collaborate for mutual benefits. Bilateral trade between the two brotherly countries can be increased multifold. Pakistan is a big potential market and economic and trade relations are in the interest of both countries. He said that frequent exchange of business delegations are the options that can bring people of both the countries closer to each other that would eventually enhance the mutual cooperation between Pakistan and Ethiopia.
