Islamabad (Khyber Mail): In a significant move to bolster bilateral trade ties, Dr. Jemal Beker, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, met with Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, on Friday at the Ministry of Commerce to review preparations for the upcoming Single Country Exhibition of Pakistan in Addis Ababa.
The exhibition, scheduled for May 15–17, 2025, will be held alongside the High-Level Business Forum “Invest in Ethiopia” taking place from May 12–13. The high-level meeting was also attended by Rana Ihsaan Afzal Khan, Coordinator to the Prime Minister on Commerce and Industry, as well as senior officials from the Ethiopian Embassy and Pakistan’s Ministry of Commerce.
Both sides expressed satisfaction over the progress made so far, particularly the joint mobilization campaign led by the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to encourage business participation.
Ambassador Dr. Jemal Beker highlighted his outreach to major business chambers across Pakistan to raise awareness about the immense trade and investment potential of Ethiopia. He reaffirmed that the Ethiopian government and its business community are fully prepared to host the Pakistani delegation and facilitate fruitful engagements during the exhibition.
The Ambassador also emphasized the pivotal role of Ethiopian Airlines in strengthening connectivity, stating that its presence in Pakistan has been instrumental in operationalizing Pakistan’s “Look Africa and Engage Africa” policy through increased exchanges in trade, science and technology, health, and education.
Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan appreciated Ambassador Beker’s proactive efforts in mobilizing Pakistan’s business community and stressed the strategic importance of the exhibition. He noted that the event would not only enhance Pakistan’s trade footprint in Ethiopia but also serve as a gateway to the broader African market.
He reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to collaborative efforts that will maximize the exhibition’s impact and open new avenues for economic cooperation between the two nations.