Pakistani exporters urged to tap Ethiopian market

Envoy-designate stresses export diversification to gain better access

ISLAMABAD:

Ethiopia meets most of its needs through imports and Pakistan has great potential to export many of its products to Ethiopia including pharmaceutical, surgical, steel, textile and other goods, said Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Ethiopia Shozab Abbas.

During an interaction with the business community at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Abbas said he would share details of products that had good demand in Ethiopia so the business community could capitalise on the opportunities for promoting exports to the Ethiopian market.

He stressed that the Pakistani business community should focus on diversification of exports to have better penetration into the African region. A direct flight from Karachi to Ethiopia took around three to four hours and both countries should establish direct air links to improve trade relations, he said.

He assured the business community that he would provide all possible support for getting better access to the Ethiopian market.

Also speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Muhammad Ahmad Waheed said Africa should be the key focus for the business community as it offered great avenues for exports.

He pointed out that Pakistan had prepared a ‘Look Africa’ policy and it should make Ethiopia a hub of its exports to the African region.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 1^st, 2020.

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