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Seeking stronger bilateral ties with the emirate, the delegation included Shisema Gebresilassie, head of Addis Ababa City Government Trade and Industry Development Bureau, Getachew Regasa, Secretary General, Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectorial Associations, and 31 business representatives from the Africa country.
The meeting was attended by Atiq Juma Nasib, senior vice-president, Commercial Services Sector, Dubai Chamber, Dr. Abdulkadir Risku Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in UAE, Amb. Tekleab K. Aregawi, head of Dubai Chamber Representative Office in Addis Ababa, and over 40 representatives of Dubai’s private sector.
Nasib said: “Over the years there have been numerous visits and exchanges by high level Dubai Chamber and Addis Ababa Chamber officials which have strengthened the long serving ties between our two business destinations and this latest visit will help us highlight Dubai’s position as a safe and stable hub besides strengthening African and Emirati ties. On its part, Dubai Chamber is actively seeking ways to develop mutually beneficial business relations with key global partners. The markets of Eastern and Southern Africa are important to us. They have strong potential across a number of industry sectors, particularly trade and tourism. This is why we opened our second international office in Addis Ababa in 2013, to bring our business communities closer together and to increase two-way business and investment between our two destinations,” said Nasib adding that for Dubai Chamber members, Eastern and Southern Africa represents some of the highest trade volumes out of the continent.
The senior vice-president of Commercial Services Sector further stressed that there is also good potential to expand trade due to Dubai’s rising demands for quality food produce and Africa’s need for machinery, building materials and consumer products. “Dubai is a gateway for African entrepreneurs to international markets, including those across the Middle East, Europe and Asia,” he said. ‘‘Trade is a pillar of Dubai’s economy and an important indicator of our international partners. Presently, Dubai Chamber has 371 Ethiopian companies among its members while non-oil trade between Dubai and Ethiopia in 2014 valued Dh1.75 billion making Ethiopia our 78th largest trade partner with a six percent growth on the 2013 value of Dh1.66 billion.”
Nasib also informed about the Chamber’s organising of two Africa Global Business Forum conferences dedicated to Africa-Dubai cooperation. “We are certain that Dubai and Africa are key partners for future economic growth, and this is why Dubai Chamber is building stronger partnerships across the continent today. Later this year, we will organise the Africa Global Business Forum once again, for the third consecutive year,” he said.
Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/biz/inside.asp?xfile=/data/uaebusiness/2015/March/uaebusiness_March340.xml§ion=uaebusiness