An Omani Business Delegation in Addis Ababa
A business delegation from Oman, led by Sheikh Hamoud Said Abdullah Ali Rasbi, Board Member of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, visited Ethiopia from 1st to 5th December. The visit, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was aimed at forging closer relationship between the business people of the two countries. During its visit the delegation met with the State Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Agriculture as well as representatives of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and held a series of business meetings.
At the Ministry of Trade, Sheikh Hamoud and the delegation met Ato Yakob Yala, State Minister of Trade who welcomed the group and briefed members on the overall situation of Ethiopia’s foreign trade and the pertinent policy directions the government has taken towards trade. The delegation subsequently met Ato Wondirad Mandefro, State Minister of Agriculture who briefed them about the conducive investment environment for agriculture in Ethiopia. Later Sheikh Hamoud and the delegation visited Mojo, 70 kms south of Addis Ababa, on a visit arranged by the Ministry of Agriculture to visit two abattoirs involved in the export of meat products to the Middle East.
Subsequently, the delegation visited the Chamber of Commerce where Ato Eyesuswork Zafu, President of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce, emphasised the need for translating the outcome of the visit into action so that businesspeople from both countries might contribute towards their economic development. Sheikh Hamoud, who expressed his thanks for the welcome given to his delegation, hoped that this visit would be a landmark event that would substantially increase trade relations between the two countries. The meeting culminated in the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Ato Eyesuswork and Sheik Hamoud on behalf of their respective Chambers of Commerce for the exchange of trade delegations and visits in the interest of joint relations and enhancing the exchange of trade between Ethiopia and Oman. Both sides expressed the desire to see the establishment of a joint business council to coordinate and support economic relations.
The Omani business delegation also met with a large number of Ethiopian businesspeople invited by the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce to meet their Omani counterparts. After introductions a highly successful business-to-business meeting took place, described by both sides as very promising. The delegation was then taken to the Ethiopian Commodity Exchange (ECX) where it was briefed by Dr. Eleni Gebre Medhin, and visited the trading floor.
The delegation also had a lively meeting with the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Berhane Gebrechristos, who provided an overview of the economic environment currently prevailing in Ethiopia, which he said was conducive to trade and investment. He assured the delegation that the government would do whatever possible to assist them to start business operations in Ethiopia. The delegation made it clear they would like to see the relevant Ethiopian government authorities take measures to expedite visa procedures as well as facilitate shipping and airfreight transport. Members of the delegation also made it clear they were keen to engage in agricultural development, in trade and construction. There was interest in importing products from Ethiopia and the delegation made it clear it would like to see members of the Ethiopian business community visit Oman. The Ethiopian embassy in Yemen covers the Sultanate of Oman.