UAE, Ethiopia explore cooperation in logistics and transport sectors

A delegation from Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently participated in the Ethiopian Transport Investment Summit, which recently took place in Addis Ababa, and explored prospects for expanding cooperation between the UAE and Ethiopia in the logistics and transport sectors.

The Summit, organised by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Transport, aimed to promote the sector’s untapped investment opportunities and create a networking platform for potential foreign and local investors.

At the summit, Mrs. Dagmawit Moges, Minister to Ministry of Transport of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, expressed her government’s readiness to collaborate with the private sector to achieve the transport and logistics sector’s ten-year perspective plan and hence dedicated her effort to the preparation of the summit.

She said that “as the country seeks to increase infrastructure assets, and renovate the services, the amalgamation of state of art technological inputs, and enjoying a late comer advantage of accessing all contemporary transport related inventions and mechanisms would only happen, through opening up of the sector to the private investors both foreign and domestic.”

A panel session during the event, titled Opportunities for Private Sector Engagement in the Ethiopian Transport Sector, was joined by Omar Khan, Director of International Offices. During the discussion, he noted that the summit shed light on new opportunities in Ethiopia’s logistics and transport sectors, which offer tremendous potential for Dubai Chamber members, and companies specialising in IT companies, delivery and freight forwarding in particular.

“The transport sector is vital and important to any country, and Ethiopia is witnessing many changes in terms of investment, trade and opening up opportunities for international companies,” Khan said, adding that Ethiopia is expected to witness unprecedented economic transformation with the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement coming into play.

Since Dubai Chamber opened its first Africa office in Addis Ababa several years ago, Dubai’s non-oil trade with Africa has surged by nearly 42% over the 2014-2019 period, Khan explained, adding that the number of African companies registering with Dubai Chamber has grown to exceed 17,000 today.

In addition, he encouraged Ethiopian companies to participate in the Expo 2020 Dubai and the Global Business Forum Africa descending on Dubai later this year, as they provide an ideal platform for these businesses to boost their global profile, explore new growth opportunities and build cross-border partnerships.

Dubai Chamber’s delegation, headed by Omar Khan, also met with prominent and influential leaders from Ethiopia’s public and private sectors, including Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Innovation and Technology; Ministry of Trade; Land Bank Development Commission; Orbit Health; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Mines and Petroleum; Muya Ethiopia; CAWEE; Wild Coffee, Industry Park Development Commission; Ethiopian National Bank; and Hadero Coffee Roasting centre. Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry recently launched a webinar series providing African women business leaders and entrepreneurs with useful information about doing business in Dubai, as well as the benefits of participating in Expo 2020 Dubai.

The African Women in Business: Connecting the Dots to the UAE Market and Expo 2020 series, organised by the Chamber’s representative offices in Africa, attracted 200 participants from the UAE, Africa and other emerging markets, including business leaders and entrepreneurs representing a wide range of economic sectors. The first webinar, organised earlier this month in partnership with the African Union Commission and Center for Accelerated Women’s Economic Empowerment (CAWEE), and supported by Bizzmosis and Dubai Exports, offered valuable insights on Dubai’s economy and business landscape, in addition to new incentives and competitive advantages available to foreign companies and investors.

Addressing participants, Omar Khan, Director of International Offices at Dubai Chamber noted that the webinar series established new channels of constructive dialogue between the UAE and Africa business communities, examine existing bilateral business opportunities and explore new avenues of economic cooperation. Khan noted that Expo 2020 Dubai is an ideal opportunity for African companies to tap into Dubai’s advantages, explore new growth opportunities in the region and boost their global profile, adding that Dubai Chamber, as an Official Partner at the mega event, will play a pivotal role in creating new connections and collaborations at Expo 2020, which is the first World Expo to be hosted in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region.

 “Over the last few years, Dubai has strengthened its position as a preferred trade hub for African companies, and Africa is a market of strategic importance to the Chamber and a key focus of its international expansion strategy. Our Dubai Chamber Africa Offices play a crucial role in facilitating trade and commerce between African and UAE business communities, identifying business opportunities in promising markets and attracting African companies to Dubai,” Khan said.