Zambia, Ethiopia forms business forum

THE Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia has partnered with the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ACCSA) to accelerate the work of the Zambia-Ethiopia Business Forum.

Zambia’s ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba, said Government has shifted focus in line with the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP), from political to economic diplomacy. Mr Mwamba said the move was to ensure that Zambia maximized benefits from countries of accreditation in foreign missions. Mr Mwamba, who is also Zambia’s permanent representative to the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), said in view of this, the embassy had embarked on an aggressive campaign to maximize on the economic benefits that Zambia could realise from Ethiopia and countries of extra accreditation which included Sudan and Djibouti. He said that trade between the two states averaged about $200million which could be dramatically scaled up with exports from Zambia, such as sugar which Ethiopia urgently required. And Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce secretary general, Getachew Regassa, welcomed the proposed formation of the Zambia Ethiopia Business Forum, saying it would be a sure means of fast tracking trade and investment between the private sector players from both countries. Mr Getachew said this when Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Emmanuel Mwamba paid a courtesy call on him. He emphasised that the business forum would create a platform for the private sector to engage and discuss business and investment opportunities which exist in both countries.