Chambers presents Ag Fair

The 12th Addis Chamber specialized International Agriculture and Food Trade Fair (Agrifex), and the First Medical Trade Fair organized by the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations opened on Thursday at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Centre.
Getachew Regassa, Secretary General of Addis Chamber, said his association has been undertaking various trade promotional activities in the course of enacting its mandated mission of stimulating trade and investment in Ethiopia. He said that such kind of specialized fairs are part of the chamber’s activity.
A total of over 125 companies are participating in both fairs.
Mesenbet Shenkute, President of Addis Chamber, said despite the huge agricultural resources existing in the country’s, private sector investment in agriculture remains very low and is the reason why the Addis Chamber consistently promotes private business participation in agriculture and agro industries.
“In a similar manner, the pharmaceutical and medical sector is also considered one of the priority and strategic sectors that has received due attention in the government’s development plan. Ethiopia enjoys a comparative advantage in pharmaceuticals and can provide the country with substantial growth and employment,” she said.
Aynalem Nigussie, State Minister of Agriculture, said that still agriculture is at the heart of the country’s economy, contributing 45 per cent of GDP, 85 per cent of employment and 85 per cent of exports.
Aynalem said “the government recognizes the significance of such events organized by the chamber in promoting agricultural and food products and medical products of exhibitors in creating appropriate platforms for business to business linkages between local and foreign companies in facilitating knowhow and technology transfer and in promoting Ethiopia as a suitable investment destination and by so doing to enhancing the flow of Foreign Direct Investment to the sector.”