ADDIS ABABA– Ethiopia’s thrived relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Middle East’s commercial and tourism hub, paves the way for the former to utilize the region’s enormous business potential, a noted scholar said.
A senior Historian and researcher of Ethio-Arab relation Ademkemil (Assistant Professor) stated that the growing partnership with the UAE would unlock the opportunity for Ethiopian products to penetrate the Middle East market.
“Realizing the objective reality of the Gulf countries is important to utilize the region’s trade opportunities and obtain a market for exports,” the scholar stressed. Most of the Gulf Arab countries are reliant on food imports due to unfavorable climatic conditions and low water supply.
Ethiopia’s largest economic partner in the region and third biggest export destination, Saudi Arabia, imports the bulk of its food requirements from foreign countries. The same is true for the UAE, which focuses on importing large quantities of food items such as wheat, barley, corn, beets and soybeans.
“Ethiopia therefore needs to prioritize trading agricultural products with Gulf countries by capitalizing on its huge potential and geographic proximity.”
Apart from its geographic proximity, Ethiopia’s abundant resource enables it to provide fresh and halal agricultural products to Gulf States and overturn the current dominance of different countries that are far away from the region.
Mentioning the population influx of the Arab world, Adem indicated the situation also forced those countries to search trade partners elsewhere in the world. “I think our partners in the Middle East are well aware of Ethiopia’s potential and capacity to export a sufficient amount of agricultural products.”
He added: “The Ethiopian government should utilize this opportunity and make consolidated efforts to increase the volume of the export trade. Encouraging the flow of tourists from the UAE and other Middle East countries is something worth equal consideration.”
Most of the Gulf countries have abundant petroleum resources that enable them to be among world economic powers with huge potential for foreign direct investment (FDI). In this regard, Ethiopia’s warm diplomatic tie with the UAE is also encouraging anchor companies from other countries in the region to invest here.
Commenting on the UAE’s status in Gulf and Middle East politics, the scholar highlighted that the country is wielding immense influence in the region’s politics and diplomacy. Accordingly, for Ethiopia, strengthening diplomatic ties with the UAE means consolidating partnership with the remaining oil-rich countries.
Apart from its status of middle power in global politics, the UAE has strong influence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
BY YESUF ENDRIS
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD TUESDAY 22 AUGUST 2023
