An investment forum aimed at enhancing bilateral economic cooperation between Ethiopia and Japan and promoting investment opportunities available in Ethiopia has been held.
Opening the forum with a keynote address, the Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission, Zeleke Temesgen(PhD), stated that Ethiopia and Japan share a partnership that spans many years, and emphasised that the two countries should further strengthen this relationship through trade and investment cooperation.
The commissioner added that the wide-ranging reform efforts undertaken to make Ethiopia’s investment climate more conducive and competitive, the country’s strategic location, its vast market potential, and the ease with which companies investing in Ethiopia can access the African market collectively position Ethiopia as an attractive investment destination.
In this regard, the Commissioner called on Japanese investors to channel their investments into the priority sectors identified by Ethiopia.
On her part, Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Kunimitsu Ayano, noted that the reform measures Ethiopia is implementing to transition from a state-led economy to a private-sector-driven economy are making the country’s investment environment increasingly favourable.
She further stated that today’s forum would help Japanese investors strengthen their engagement in Ethiopia by taking advantage of these reform efforts.
The forum organised jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ethiopian Investment Commission, and the Embassy of Japan in Ethiopia, the forum brought together more than 40 Japanese companies. During the event, presentations were delivered by the Ethiopian Investment Commission on investment opportunities in Ethiopia.
Japanese investors who participated in the forum also visited the Bole Lemi Special economy zone as Ethiopian Investment commission reported it.
