Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan Jemal Beker Abdula has expressed his country’s keenness to further strengthen trade ties with Pakistan and identified the key areas for trade promotion between the two countries. "Our government is strongly looking forward to building a strong relationship with Pakistan, which is located in a very important region and has major economies in its neighbourhood," he said in a meeting with the director general of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). The Ethiopian ambassador underlined the need to sign accords between the trading organizations of both countries to ensure bilateral trade under a legal system.

He also identified the key areas with the potential to boost bilateral trade. Pakistan could import coffee, red beans among other things, while its sugar, rice and pharmaceutical equipment could be exported to Ethiopia, Jemal Beker said. He said Ethiopian Airlines would soon start its operations in Pakistan to further strengthen people-to-people contacts and promote trade, tourism and cultural activities. TDAP Director General Muhammad Naseer said Pakistan has vast opportunities to export its products to Ethiopia, which has already been importing various goods, including textiles from Russia, India, and China.

Nasser expressed his interest in holding joint conferences to enhance trade between the two countries by promoting business-to-business contacts. He highlighted the contours of Pakistan's ‘Look Africa Policy’ and assured the envoy of all-out support for boosting bilateral trade. Naseer also informed him about the role and functioning of the TDAP.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk