(Addis Chamber, November 4, 2023) One of the most industrialized countries of Europe, Czech Republic, has sustained long years of diplomatic ties with Ethiopia that is dating back to the mid-1950s.
Since then Czech Republic made enormous contribution to support Ethiopia in multiple development sectors such as agriculture, education and armaments among others.
Now the two countries are striving to reinvigorate their diplomatic ties and the latest visit of Czech Republic Prime Minister, H.E Mr. Petr Fiala to Ethiopia is exemplary.
The trip to Africa, Ethiopia, is one of the high profile visits made by the Czechs and fourteen business delegations accompanying the Prime Minister made their foothold in Ethiopia.
The Ethio- Czech Business Forum is the second edition that connects the business peoples of the two nations.
High profile government official from Ethiopia, Addis Chamber, Ethiopian Investment Holdings, Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic and representatives of business communities of the two countries attended the business forum.
Czech companies drawn from engineering, defense, agriculture, health care and logistics made an effective match making with their counterparts from Ethiopia at Sheraton Hotel.
“We see Ethiopia as one of our key trading partners in Africa and it is time to look for more than importing legendary coffee” , said the Prime Minister of Czech Republic while addressing the forum.
He also said that Ethiopia can offer many opportunities for cooperation in trade and other high added value goods.
Currently the two countries are implementing various development projects such as water management, health care and development cooperation should continue hand in hand in the areas of hydrology and geology among the likes.
“This forum which we believe will take a step further the link between the business communities of the two countries and the cordial and long standing political relationship is exemplary and however maximum effort is needed to promote trade and investment relations ships to be carried out between the two countries”, speaks Misganu Arega, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.
Mesenbet Shenkute, President of Addis Chamber, on her part said that the mutual economic and trade relations that dates back to long years ago now transferred to trade and investment relationship and Ethiopia is still a market for Czech companies, where the Czech products unwinding from previous delivery of big investment projects would without any doubt find their buyer in Ethiopia”.
Jan Rafaj, from Confederation of Industry of Czech Republic highlighted that Czech Republic is an open export oriented economy based on the manufacturing services and innovation.
He further noted that Czech is the most industrialized country in Europe, well integrated in EU market with a stable economy, low unemployment and strategic location with home of quality education and the two countries can look forward to do business in energy, infrastructure, and transportation network.
The high profile business forum is accompanied by signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Addis Chamber and Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic to work on multiple projects ahead.