Ahead of a business forum aimed at enhancing bilateral ties slated next year, Qatar’s ambassador to Ethiopia urged Qatari businessmen yesterday to invest in a wide range of sectors in the East African country.
At the ‘Invest in Ethiopia’ forum, organised by the Ethiopian Embassy at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, ambassador Metasebia Tadesse Woldegiorgis encouraged Qatari businessmen to explore investment opportunities in the country’s agriculture, manufacturing, services, pharmaceuticals, and building materials sectors.
He noted that preparations are underway for the staging of the ‘Qatar-Ethiopia Business Forum’ next year to further enhance co-operation ties between the two countries, which Woldegiorgis said, “own good relations in all fields.”
Speaking at the forum, which aims to present the investment opportunities in Ethiopia and explore the economic and trade co-operation relations in the private sector level, Qatar Chamber first vice-chairman Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari said, “It is currently the right time to explore the expansion of diversified co-operation relations between the private sectors of both countries, which enhances trade exchange.”
Al-Kuwari said Qatari businessmen are interested to know about investment opportunities found in African countries, particularly in Ethiopia, which, he said, “has many promising opportunities in a number of sectors.” 
“Ethiopia enjoys a distinguished geographical location in the Horn of Africa and a gateway to many neighbouring countries such as Sudan, Eretria, Kenya, and Djibouti,” al-Kuwari explained.
Al-Kuwari also said Ethiopia offers “many investment opportunities in various sectors,” adding that Qatar Chamber has hosted trade delegations from Ethiopia to discuss with Qatari businessmen the possibility of establishing joint projects and partnerships.
Woldegiorgis said he values Qatar Chamber’s efforts to co-operate with Ethiopia and to support business relations, deepen the communication between the business communities in both countries, and finding partnerships to promote trade exchange. 
In a presentation, Woldegiorgis said Ethiopia registered “great growth” in the recent years, citing government support and facilities for investors, such as income tax exemption for more than 10 years and export tax exemptions. He added that Ethiopia has developed infrastructure, such as roads, transport, shipping, communications, making it a promising investment destination for foreign investors.
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