Tadesse Haile (right), state minister of Trade Industry and Eyesuswork Zafu, president of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral greeted each other as they meet on the opening of the 14th Addis International Trade fair last Thursday. Girma Birru (middle), minister of Trade and Industry officially opened the trade fair while Ayalew Zegeye, president of the metropolitan chamber also was part of the first international trade fair after his presidency.


An Italian business delegation, organised by the Italian Institute of Foreign Trade, has been in Addis Abeba since last Wednesday to participate in the 14th Addis Chamber International Trade Fair (ACITF).

The delegation represented eight Italian companies and Consorzio Italy, a consortium of 15 entrepreneurs.

In October 2009 a larger delegation of 30 Italian businesspeople were in Addis Abeba to explore investment opportunities in Ethiopia.

The group met with Tadesse Haile, state minister for Trade and Industry. This group was interested in supplying medium size solar energy technologies to Ethiopia.

In addition, Franco Frattini, the Italian Foreign Minister, paid a visit to Ethiopia and attended the inauguration of the Gilgel Gibe II Hydroelectric Plant, just a little over a month ago.

The 14th ACITF, organised by the metropolitan chamber, was opened last Thursday, February 25, 2010, by Girma Birru. Trade and Industry minister. The trade fair will close on March 3, 2010.

“We are here to promote the original ‘Made in Italy,’” said Fabio Santoni, president of Consorzio Italy and marketing director of Proras Engineering and Contracting, during a press briefing held at the Italian Embassy on Wednesday, February 24, 2010. “We also want to partner with Ethiopian companies for export activities to Italy.”

However, there are issues that Italian businesses face in coming to Ethiopia to do business, Santoni said.

Raffaele de Lutio, Italian Ambassador to Ethiopia, has the same opinion.

“Ethiopia is a country to be closely monitored for its opportunities,” the ambassador said in a statement. “But it still presents difficulties and obstacles, mainly access to credit, … complex bureaucracy, and a high taxation system.”

The participants that wanted to come for the 14th Addis Chamber were troubled to temporarily import their goods because it takes a much longer time than in other African countries, he also mentioned.

Even so the small-scale and medium enterprises which are members of Consorzio Italy, involved in engineering, transport, agro-processing, leather, food, textiles and clothing industries, believe cooperation among them was the best way to approach international markets, according to Santoni.

His delegation met with public and private bank executives and the Ethiopian Investment Authority.

Addis Abeba was also busy last week hosting other delegations from the UK and Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The delegation from the UK met briefly with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and had one-on-one business talks with Ethiopian businesspeople.

In addition, a Chinese delegation comprising of 11 business representatives from power generation and foodstuffs manufacturing sectors was scheduled to meet with the members of the Addis Abeba Chamber and Sectoral Association yesterday morning, February 27, 2010.

On Monday, March 1, 2010, a Canadian business mission will meet with its Ethiopian counterpart over lunch held at the Hilton Addis Abeba.

Source: AddisFortune