Islamabad ( ) A delegation of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry led by Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari President, returned after a very successful and historic 5-days visit of Ethiopia where the delegation met with the country’s political leadership, businessmen, government officials and the local community. The delegation was received at Addis Ababa Airport by Mrs. Birtukan Ayano, State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia. The delegation attended the Pak- Ethiopia Business Forum, which was inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia Demeke Mekonnen. 70 delegates from Pakistan including ICCI delegation members were in attendance in the Business Forum. The delegation also met with the Ethiopian Minister for Industry, Minister for Mines and Commissioner of Ethiopian Investment Commission besides visiting Ethiopian industrial parks.

Giving an overview of the visit, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that the visit of Pakistani delegation would start a new chapter of bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Ethiopia and boost business and investment relations between the two countries. He said that Africa is a huge market of over 1.4 billion people and Pakistan has huge potential to promote trade and exports with Africa through Ethiopia, which is a gateway for Africa. He said that Pakistan has made a Look Africa Policy, which has not as yet achieved its desired goals. He said that the visit of Pakistan’s business delegation to Ethiopia would make positive progress towards the objectives of Look Africa Policy. He said that Pakistan’s two close friends Turkiye and China have made good investments in Ethiopia and Africa, which provides Pakistani investors better confidence to explore Ethiopia for business and investment opportunities. He said that the Ethiopian airline, which is covering around 130 destinations of the world, is going to start direct flights with Pakistan in April that would further strengthen business relations between the two countries.

Ahsan Bakhtawari said that the delegation was very satisfied with their visit to Ethiopia and many of them have shown interest to invest in industrial parks, textiles, pharma & chemical production plants in Ethiopia. He lauded the Ethiopian Ambassador Jemal Bakr Abdula for mobilizing the business community of Pakistan for this visit. He also appreciated Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia Shozab Abbas for his full cooperation and support to the delegation in Ethiopia. He hoped that the historic visit of the Pakistani delegation would boost Pakistan-Ethiopia bilateral trade and economic relations and bring both countries event closer.

Mian Muhammad Idrees former President FPCCI, Engr. Muhammad Azhar ul Islam Zafar Vice President ICCI, Zafar Bakhtawari former President, Hamayun Kabir, Ibrahim Tawab Honorary Consul General of Ethiopia and others were in the Pakistani delegation.