Addis Ababa, June 27, 2024 (FBC) – A high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia, comprising senior government officials and investors, is set to embark on a working visit to Ethiopia next month, as per the Ethiopian Embassy in Riyadh.
This development arose from a meeting between Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Lencho Bati, and Al Baraa bin Bassem Al Iskandarani, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Planning for Economic and International Affairs of Saudi Arabia.
During the meeting, both officials discussed ways to enhance trade and investment relations between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia.
On the occasion, it was disclosed that a high-level Saudi Arabian delegation, consisting of senior officials from various Saudi Arabian ministries and investors, is expected to visit Ethiopia next month.
In preparation for the visit, the ambassador and the undersecretary discussed potential collaborative activities to ensure its success.
According to the Embassy, the primary objective of the visit is to enhance and fortify the relationship between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia by identifying shortcomings and challenges in their trade and investment engagements, and proposing solutions to potential gaps and obstacles.
The upcoming delegation to Ethiopia, consisting of up to 25 members, is anticipated to take place around mid-July 2024.
Following Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s visit to Saudi Arabia and his participation in the maiden Saudi-Africa Summit in November 2023, the bilateral relationship between Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia has reportedly gained renewed momentum.
It is to be recalled that the 6th Ethio-Saudi Joint Ministerial Commission meeting was held in Riyadh on May 21-22, 2024. The gathering brought together senior officials from both Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia, including Ethiopia’s Foreign Minister, Ambassador Taye Atske-Selassie, and Saudi Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture, Abdurrahman Al-Alfadeli.
The primary objective of the meeting was to strengthen the historical ties between the two nations and further deepen their longstanding relationship.
In addition to the 6th Ethio-Saudi Joint Ministerial Commission meeting, a Saudi Arabian investment and trade delegation, consisting of 79 investors and led by the President of the Federation of Chamber of Commerce of Saudi Arabia, visited Ethiopia earlier this month.
During their visit, the delegation had the opportunity to meet with Prime Minister Ahmed in person as well as tour industrial parks. This allowed them to observe firsthand the current investment and business climate in Ethiopia.
The Saudi investment delegates expressed significant interest in engaging in various sectors, including five-star hotel investments.
During the Saudi Arabian delegation’s visit to Ethiopia, the latest round of the Ethiopia-Saudi Trade and Investment Forum was conducted on June 5 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.