• 1,150 int’l companies visited Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA – FDRE Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that preparations are under way to reach trade agreement with Eritrea. State Minister of Foreign Affairs Hirut Zemene told the media yesterday that Ethio-Eritrean trade agreements are being prepared and the legalization of trade between the two countries will strengthen the existing peace relations and will ensure economic benefits of the two countries.
“Ethiopia has also worked extensively in the area of peace and economic development with Djibouti, Kenya and other countries in the region”, she said. She remembered that Ethiopia played a great role this year to restore peace in the Republic of the Sudan.
On his part, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Aklilu Hailemichael said that 1,150 international companies – 159 are anchor companies – visited Ethiopia and 225 companies are under preparation to begin investment in Ethiopia. He said, “168 business forums were prepared to achieve this.”
About 67 joint ventures have been created to enable local investors to cooperate with foreign investors, according to him. He indicated that in this year 27,704 Ethiopians have been released from prisons in different countries and returned home. In addition, 112,615 people who were living abroad with no residence permit have been repatriated, he added.
The Ethiopian Herald, July 27/2019
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
