Shanghai import expo to open new opportunities for Ethiopian products: minister

ADDIS ABABA - The upcoming China International Import Expo (CIIE) will provide new opportunities for Ethiopia to export its products to one of the world's largest markets, said Ethiopia's State Minister of Trade Promotion Sector Ayana Zewdie on Wednesday.

Speaking to Chinese media here in the Ethiopian capital, Zewdie said Ethiopia will be participating in the expo under the country theme: "Taste of Origins," promoting its finest agricultural products, including, pulses, coffee, oilseeds and spices.

"The majority of the products are natural, organic, traceable, sustainably harvested and fair trade certified," said Ayana.

The CIIE, which is scheduled to take place in November in Shanghai, will be providing new opportunities for Ethiopia to explore exporting to China and to further create linkages for its wider international trade, said the state minister.

More than 100 countries across the world are expected to participate in the expo, he said, adding that it will also create an open platform for the East African country to promote its development achievements to engage in wider international trade and share business opportunities.

Ayana said the expo will encourage countries to develop products and services that will help them boost trade, further advancing economic globalization and an open world economy.

"To gain benefit from the expo, Ethiopia will promote different goods and services based on its competitive and comparative advantages. Our enterprises and business exhibition area will consist of displays of goods in different categories," he noted.

As Ethiopia is exerting efforts to become one of Africa's manufacturing hubs, it will also promote products from the sector, such as textile and garments, leather and leather products and agro-processing products, among others, he said.

In addition to products such as gold, tantalum, marble in the mining sector, Ethiopia will also promote investment opportunities in the country and its tourist attractions, according to the state minister.

"In addition, we will show our diversity and culture so as to build country's image," he said.

Reiterating that the Ethiopian government has been providing comprehensive support to the export sector, the government will play a leading role for the participation in the CIIE.

With coordinated efforts both at home and Ethiopia's Embassy in China, the state minister said, "the major support (to Ethiopian participants) will be mobilizing resources and logistics, coordination, facilitation, provision, of foreign currency, discount for air fare."

The expo will enable Ethiopia to promote and create linkage to China's huge market which will help the country to widen the market for export products, he said.

With the world's largest population, China is the world's second largest economy and the second largest importer and consumer, he said, pointing out that the expo would be a good platform to promote products and services to such a huge market.

"The new development stage the country entered at which consumption keeps increasing, indicating enormous potential for the growth of consumption and import," noted the state minister.

In the next five years, China is expected to import products and services valuing more than $10 trillion, which provides a historic opportunity for enterprises across the world to enter the huge Chinese market.

"So, CIIE is an important landmark in the continual opening of the Chinese market to the world," he said.

Hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the CIIE will be held on November 5-8 in Shanghai, China.