Sharjah 24:
In a bid to strengthen economic and trade relations with African markets, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, through the Sharjah Export Development Centre, is organising a commercial delegation to Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, from 19 to 22 October 2026. The delegation will be headed by His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais, Chairman of the Sharjah Chamber, and will involve several members of the official delegation alongside representatives from the private sector in Sharjah.
Objectives of the Mission
The mission aims to enhance trade exchanges between Sharjah and Ethiopia, explore available investment opportunities in sectors of mutual interest, broaden the presence of national products in African markets, and build strategic partnerships between the business communities of the two nations.
Sharjah-Ethiopia Business Forum
On 20 October 2026, the programme will feature the Sharjah-Ethiopia Business Forum in Addis Ababa, attended by senior government officials and representatives from the commercial chambers and economic institutions of both sides. Key Ethiopian officials participating include His Excellency Dr. Abdi Kadir Mulu, State Minister for Trade and Regional Integration; His Excellency Mr. Hassan Mohammed Mowlin, State Minister of Industry; and Her Excellency Dr. Sofia Kasa, State Minister for Agricultural Investment and Input Supply Development.
Discussions with Ethiopian officials will focus on ways to boost trade, industrial, and agricultural cooperation, facilitate the entry of Emirati products into the Ethiopian market, and explore investment opportunities in manufacturing, food processing, agriculture, packaging, construction materials, and logistics services. The forum will also serve as a platform for bilateral business meetings between participating companies and their Ethiopian counterparts, aimed at developing commercial and investment partnerships and enhancing cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries.
Official Meetings
The mission’s agenda includes meetings with various Ethiopian government entities and economic institutions, such as the Ministry of Trade and Regional Integration, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ethiopian Investment Commission, in addition to the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and relevant sector associations. These discussions aim to address joint investment opportunities, understand the regulations governing trade and investment, enhance institutional collaboration, and facilitate direct communication between Emirati and Ethiopian businesses.
Strengthening Chamber Partnerships
Moreover, the visit will explore renewing the memorandum of understanding signed between the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce in 2001, reflecting the evolution of economic relations between the two entities and contributing to strengthening institutional cooperation, exchanging information, and organising joint economic events.
His Excellency Abdullah Sultan Al Owais emphasised that this mission aligns with the Sharjah Chamber’s strategy aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector, diversifying export markets, and expanding the network of commercial and investment partnerships among companies operating in the emirate.
He stated, “The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia represents a promising market with diverse economic and investment potentials. Through this mission, we seek to strengthen cooperative relations between the business communities of Sharjah and Ethiopia, and open new channels for trade and investment exchange, which supports the growth of the emirate’s exports and enhances the presence of national companies in African markets. We are committed to developing sustainable institutional partnerships with Ethiopian economic entities and commercial chambers to create new opportunities for businesses and investors and to encourage cooperation in mutually beneficial industrial, agricultural, and commercial sectors.”
Field Visits
The mission’s programme also includes field visits to several industrial facilities and economic institutions in Ethiopia to assess production capabilities and available investment opportunities, gain insights into the needs of the Ethiopian market, and examine prospects for establishing commercial and industrial partnerships between the participating companies and local counterparts.
This delegation is part of the Sharjah Export Development Centre’s efforts to promote the growth of national exports, expand the target market base, and encourage businesses to leverage the economic opportunities available in Africa, aligning with Sharjah’s directions towards economic diversification and sustainable development.