China, Ethiopia boost trade partnership

Sept 19, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — Vice-President of Chinese Economic Cooperation Center who is also head of the Chinese business delegation that is on a working visit to Ethiopia said China is becoming Ethiopia’s major trade partner.

While holding discussions with Ethiopian business community members at the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, Head of the Business Delegation, Gao Tieying said that the trade relation between the two countries has shown a remarkable improvement.

In recent years Ethiopian agricultural and other products exported to china have shown dramatic increase and are winning high market demand.

He said so far the trade balance between the two countries is in favor of China, adding, Ethiopian exporters should exert massive efforts to maintain the trade balance, the state-run ENA reported.

Tieying said members of the Chinese delegation are looking for opportunities in which they could jointly work with their Ethiopian counterparts.

The business delegation came to Ethiopia to look in to Ethiopian investment policy and various business sectors and opportunities in the country, he added.

The volume of coffee, oil seeds, and cereals Ethiopia exports to China has radically increased over the past three years.

Communications and Media Department Head with the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, Teferi Asfaw said Ethiopia secured over one billion Birr ($114.354.975) from export of goods to various countries, adding, the volume of goods exported to China took the lion’s share.

(ST)