Dr Oumer Hussien Oba, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, paid an official visit to the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Tuesday to discuss ways to expand trade and investment cooperation between Ethiopia and Pakistan.
The ambassador was warmly received by Murad Arshad, Senior Vice President of the SCCI, along with executive members of the chamber.
Addressing the business community, Dr Oumer praised Sialkot’s strong industrial base and said there is significant potential to enhance bilateral economic relations. He highlighted Ethiopia’s strategic advantages for Pakistani investors, including its large consumer market, skilled workforce, access to affordable green energy, and strong connectivity to regional and international markets.
The ambassador noted that Ethiopia offers an investor-friendly environment backed by incentives and tax exemptions introduced under the country’s Homegrown Economic Reforms. He said these reforms have helped stabilize the economy, increase productivity, and generate employment opportunities.
Dr Oumer encouraged Sialkot’s business leaders to visit Ethiopia and explore opportunities in key sectors such as agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, mining, tourism, and information and communication technology (ICT).
Speaking on the occasion, Syed Ahtesham Mazhar thanked the Ethiopian ambassador for visiting the chamber and expressed confidence that Sialkot’s industrial expertise would play an important role in strengthening business-to-business relations between the two countries.
The session concluded with an interactive question-and-answer discussion, during which participants exchanged views on practical steps to deepen economic cooperation between Pakistan and Ethiopia.