Ethiopia is gearing up to take part in the upcoming China International Import Expo 2018. The Ministry of Trade says that preparations are being executed as per the plan.
ADDIS ABABA (Semonegna)–In May 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced at the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation that China will hold China International Import Expo (CIIE) starting from 2018.
It is a significant move for the Chinese government to hold CIIE to give firm support to trade liberalization and economic globalization and actively open the Chinese market to the world. It facilitates countries and regions all over the world to strengthen economic cooperation and trade, and to promote global trade and world economic growth in order to make the world economy more open.
Ethiopia is gearing up, according to the Ministry of Trade, to take part in this upcoming China International Import Expo which will be held in Shanghai, China, November 5-10, 2018. The Ministry, which is in charge of such activities, says that preparations are being executed as per the plan.
“We need to [really] show our capabilities in different platforms by promoting Ethiopian products. [So] this China International Import Expo is one of the platforms we are looking [forward] in near future to promote all products – especially our agricultural products like coffee, because China is one of the growing markets for coffee.” Assefa Mulugeta Export Director at the Ministry of Trade, Ethiopia
In addition to promoting the country’s agricultural and manufacturing products by the exporters, Ethiopian Airlines, one of the most successful airlines in the continent, if not in the world, and the country’s national carrier, will have the opportunity to present Ethiopia as well as attract potential customers to itself at the China International Import Expo. The airline, which was the first African carrier and the fourth in the word to fly to China back in 1973, has recently said it serves around 4,000 Chinese passengers daily. Currently the airline operates nonstop flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Chengdu and Hongkong.