Ethiopia to open embassy in Pakistan

Considers visa-onarrival facility for businessmen

ISLAMABAD:

A full-fledged embassy of Ethiopia will be opened in Pakistan soon to promote trade and economic relations between the two countries, announced Ethiopian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Redwan Hussain Rameto. Talking to businessmen at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) on Friday, he said that an ambassador would be assigned to Pakistan as well. “Ethiopia is considering providing visa-on-arrival facility for businessmen from Pakistan so that they can easily visit the African nation in a bid to explore business opportunities,” he said.

Resumption of flights between Ethiopia and Pakistan was also under consideration aimed at improving people-topeople contacts and trade relations. While revealing that Ethiopia was importing 80% of pharmaceutical products, he invited Pakistan’s pharmaceutical sector investors to establish joint ventures in Addis Ababa to meet the needs of its market and export goods to different African countries.

He pointed out that his country was also considering providing 10-year tax holiday for investors in its Special Economic Zones and urged businessmen to capitalise on the opportunities. Speaking on the occasion, ICCI President Muhammad Shakeel Munir said that the government had introduced Look Africa policy to explore the massive untapped region of Africa for trade and exports. “Close cooperation between the two countries will help Islamabad gain better access to the African market,” he said.