Africa’s biggest airline – Ethiopian Airlines is gearing up to commence operations in Pakistan next month. The news was announced by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia in Islamabad, Jemal Beker Abdula.

“In this critical time in history, it is important to bring the two countries together,” Ambassador Abdula told Dawn. The pan-African airline is already flying to 130 destinations and will be an instrument to connect Pakistan with Africa, he said.

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The ambassador added that the launch o the airline will boost trade and other opportunities for business between the two countries, strengthening their relationship. Pakistan and Ethiopia were eager to penetrate each other’s markets.

“Export is a critical issue for Pakistan. We need to work with the government and other related institutions a way to increase Pakistan’s exports to the rest of the world. This is the right time for Pakistani businessmen to enter the market of Ethiopia, which is a gateway to entire Africa, with a total population of around 1.4 billion in 54 countries,” said Mr Abdula, who has set a target to increase trade volume between Pakistan and Ethiopia from roughly $80 million to $200 million.

For this purpose, the ambassador was also facilitating a Pakistani business delegation flying to Ethiopia on March 5-10 to explore business, trade and investment opportunities.

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The delegation of 100 members from the chambers of commerce will help navigate crucially important aspects, including cheap energy and more.

“We are calling it ‘Exploring trade and investment opportunities in the emerging Africa Ethiopia’. It is a turning point in the histories of the two brotherly countries,” said Mr Abdula.

“Similarly, there is a huge demand for pharmaceutical products in Ethiopia, which imported roughly 80 per cent of pharmaceutical equipment from around the world and is an excellent market for Pakistani products. Visit of the Pakistani business community to Ethiopia will open a new window of trade and investment opportunities for them in diverse sectors of the economy including textile, pharmaceutical, rice, chemicals, steel and cement. Likewise, Pakistan could import coffee, tea, pulses, oil seeds and other agricultural products from Ethiopia.”

The envoy invited Pakistanis to visit and explore Ethiopia to explore its rich and colourful heritage. “Pakistan is quite advanced in technologies to enhance textile, engineering and health. We are planning to sign agreements with the minister of science and technology and drafts have been agreed upon by both sides after the embassy opens officially. A trade agreement would be signed next week to facilitate institutional linkages,” he said, adding the Ethiopian embassy would open officially in April and would be marked by MoU signings to further strengthen ties between the two counties.

“A lot of things are happening. The time is now right when there is an understanding between the two countries and business communities to facilitate entry into the African market. We are talking about transforming the trade compositions of the two countries,” he concluded.

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About Ethiopian Airlines

Ethiopian Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Ethiopia and one of the largest and fastest-growing airlines in Africa. Founded in 1945, Ethiopian Airlines has come a long way in terms of its fleet size, route network, and passenger volume. The airline is headquartered in Addis Ababa and operates flights to over 120 destinations in 55 countries around the world.

One of the key factors that have contributed to Ethiopian Airlines’ success is its focus on providing a high level of service to its passengers. The airline has been consistently ranked as one of the best airlines in Africa in terms of customer satisfaction and overall experience. Its cabin crew is known for their warmth and hospitality, and the airline has been praised for its in-flight amenities, including comfortable seats, onboard entertainment, and delicious food and drinks.

In terms of its route network, Ethiopian Airlines has been expanding rapidly in recent years. The airline has been increasing its presence in both Africa and Asia and has added several new destinations to its network in the past few years. This has allowed the airline to connect more people to more places, and to provide its passengers with a wider range of travel options.

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