By Adnan Rafique
ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Ethiopia to Pakistan, Jemal Beker Abdula on Wednesday said that Ethiopia’s decision to formally kick-started its diplomatic mission from Islamabad would help out to further strengthen bilateral trade and economic relations between two countries.
He said that Ethiopia and Pakistan would develop a legal trade framework that further incentivizes both countries’ investors and enhances trade volume.
The Ambassador said diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Pakistan were established in 1958. So since then, both countries have had good relations and strong cooperation and support in international peace and security. Moreover, Pakistan has also supported Ethiopia in the United Nations Security Council, so it gives full support, and “we are very grateful to Pakistan for that,” he said. Commenting about Ethiopia’s interest in CPEC, he said that CPEC is one of the grand infrastructure projects between Pakistan and China. It will link Pakistan with the rest of the world, adding that the Gwadar and Djibouti is the shortest route, and strategically it can connect Pakistan to the rest of Africa. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Railway project from Djibouti to Addis Ababa Railway has already been completed. He added that Ethiopia is looking into it and special interest in the CPEC’s project.
Answering a query related to on arrival visa policy for Pakistanis, the Ambassador said that one way to ease people to move from one place to another and that they are coming and investing in Ethiopia is ensuring that their visa process is updated and fast and reliable.
So, our government has a policy to ease visa procedures for all countries, including Pakistan, who are interested in visiting Ethiopia.
Earlier, Ethiopian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Redwan Hussain Rameto had also said, “Ethiopia is considering providing visa-on-arrival facility for businessmen from Pakistan so that they can easily visit the African nation in a bid to explore business opportunities,”
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan and Ethiopia’s trade volume is around $63 million. While the exports of Ethiopia to Pakistan are about $24.6 million, Pakistan’s exports to Ethiopia are $38.6 million.
Explaining the trade volume and economic collaboration between both countries, the Ambassador said that this is a core issue where both countries need to work together and increase economic diplomacy. For instance, Pakistan has developed look Africa initiatives. This African initiative is one way that Pakistan can reach the African market.
Africa is a 1.2 billion population market, and the future of trade is now in Africa and Asia.
However, both countries must work hard to enhance people-to-people exchange in all fields, including science and technology, academia, the construction industry, pharmaceutical, and garments.
Ethiopia’s coffee and tea are delicious and inexpensive, which would be exported to Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistan’s textile and pharmaceutical exports would be helpful to trade volume as Ethiopia was importing major pharmaceutical products from Pakistan. After setting up factories in Ethiopia, the export goods could be sent to different African countries.
However, “we must create a legal framework that incentivizes the investors, the second also keeps their property rights.”
He further stated that Ethiopia and Pakistan could enhance academic cooperation, and his mission would play its role in starting educational exchanges as it could strengthen youth capacity building.
Science, innovation, and technology are primary development sources for any country. Pakistan is ready to share its engineering, agro-processing, and science & technology knowledge.
He also expressed deep condolences for those Pakistanis who have lost their precious lives in the flood and added that all the world has to stand with Pakistan in this critical time.
Commenting on the Tigray issue, he said Ethiopia wants a political solution through negotiation and peacebuilding.
But the terrorist TPLF group undermined the government call and reignited unwanted war.
In his final remark, the Ambassador said the Government of Ethiopia had a constitutional obligation to defend and protect its citizens from the invading group.
He called upon the international community to pressurize the TPLF to continue the AU-led peace dialogue.
