Addis Ababa: Pakistan and Ethiopia are forging stronger bilateral ties through increased collaboration in key sectors such as aviation, trade, education, and information technology. Atif Sharif Mian, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union, highlighted Pakistan’s keen interest in Ethiopia’s rapidly expanding economy.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Ambassador Mian emphasized the potential for enhanced South-South cooperation and Pakistan’s desire to expand partnerships in health, education, and culture to cultivate stronger people-to-people connections. He also noted the mutual support in the multilateral area, with Ethiopia backing Pakistan’s bid for the United Nations Security Council, and Pakistan reciprocating by supporting Ethiopia’s candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council. He further emphasized the strong people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Ambassador Mian underscored Pakistan’s strategic focus on strengthening ties in health, education, and culture to deepen mu
tual understanding and cooperation. He described Ethiopia as “a new frontier for development,” highlighting Africa’s young and substantial population of 1.5 billion, with Ethiopia itself boasting around 125 to 130 million people, predominantly youth. Emphasizing Ethiopia’s significant agricultural potential and human resources, the Ambassador noted the steady growth of the economic relationship, particularly in trade.
“Ethiopia has undertaken bold and courageous economic reforms, both domestic and international, including cooperation with the IMF. So liberalizing the foreign exchange regime has significantly reduced the gap between the parallel and official exchange rates,” he stated, adding that these reforms are creating a more attractive environment for investors. Furthermore, Ambassador Mian pointed out that Ethiopia’s encouragement of exports while discouraging unnecessary imports, along with the opening of the banking and retail sectors to foreign investment, represents significant progress.
He also n
oted that the Ethiopian government’s decision to allow foreign land ownership has further boosted investor confidence by mitigating risks and increasing the potential for success. As a strategic gateway to the Horn of Africa and the wider continent, Ethiopia offers a substantial market and considerable potential for Pakistani investors, Ambassador Mian emphasized. “In the past two years, around 160 Pakistani businessmen have visited Ethiopia to explore opportunities. Many are planning new ventures, while existing investors are already expanding their operations. There is strong momentum.”
The Ambassador also noted the growing aviation partnership, noting that Ethiopian Airlines currently operates four flights to Karachi, with discussions underway for further expansion.