Held on the 10th at Addis Ababa Skylight Hotel
Sharing Cases of Korean Agricultural Machinery and Textile ODA Linked Market Entry
KOTRA, together with the Korea Machinery Industry Promotion Association and Gyeongbuk Technopark, announced on the 12th that it held the 'Korea-Ethiopia Technology Exchange and Business Partnership Briefing and Consultation' on the 10th (local time) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Over 200 officials from both countries attended.
The trade volume between the two countries was $140 million (approximately 185 billion KRW) as of last year. Ethiopia has maintained a friendly relationship since participating in the Korean War. They cooperate in various fields such as Official Development Assistance (ODA), flight operations, and human exchanges. Ethiopia is Korea's largest development cooperation partner in Africa and the headquarters of the African Union (AU), making it a key partner for 'Korea-Africa Future Cooperation.'
The event was held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Ethiopia. It was conducted in connection with the 'Agricultural Machinery and Textile ODA Project' promoted by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT) in Ethiopia. KIAT is currently working on the establishment of an agricultural machinery research and development (R&D) center and a textile technopark project in Ethiopia.
Kim Myung-hee, Head of KOTRA Africa Regional Headquarters, delivering the opening remarks at the "Korea-Ethiopia Technology Exchange and Business Partnership Briefing and Consultation" held on the 10th (local time) at the Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. [Photo by KOTRA]
At the briefing, local government officials and companies from both countries in the agricultural machinery and textile sectors presented successful cases of Korean industrial ODA and strategies for entering the Ethiopian textile market. In the afternoon consultation session, 10 domestic companies and over 30 Ethiopian companies participated to discuss cooperation plans such as exports and technological collaboration.
Kang Seok-hee, the Ambassador to Ethiopia, said, "I hope to expand business cooperation among private companies on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations." Melaku Alebel, Ethiopia's Minister of Industry, stated, "We expect the competitiveness of Ethiopia's agriculture and textile industries to be strengthened through the Korean government's ODA support projects," and added, "We hope more Korean companies will enter Ethiopia in the future." Kim Myung-hee, head of KOTRA's Africa Regional Headquarters, said, "Ethiopia has traditionally been a promising export country in Africa where Korea has recorded a trade surplus," and added, "We will strive to strengthen trade and investment cooperation through industrial ODA linkage."
During the event, KOTRA and other organizations promoted the 2030 Busan World Expo to Ethiopian government and business officials.
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