Turkish producers, exporters eye Ethiopian agro market

Turkish machine producers and exporters plan to enter the promising Ethiopian agro industry market, Central Anatolian Exporters' Association Secretary General Özkan Aydın said on Tuesday.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency on the sidelines of the Ethiopia-Turkey business-to-business meeting in capital Addis Ababa, Aydın said the meeting gave an opportunity to explore and expand into new markets in Ethiopia and Africa.

"We are here in Ethiopia with 10 big Turkish agricultural machinery producers and exporters to explore the Ethiopian market and introduce them to the Ethiopian business community," he said.

"Ethiopia is a door to Africa and the region's agricultural market, which is developing …and this is why we brought agricultural machinery producers and exporters," he added.

So far, more than 187 Turkish companies have an investment of nearly $3 billion and have created more than 10,000 jobs.

Ethiopia imports metal and metal products, machines, electrical devices and spare parts among others.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia exports vegetable, sesame, oil seeds, animal products, leather and leather products, and textile.

According to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, trade volume between the two countries remains on the rise.

"Exports from Turkey to Ethiopia was $439.73 million while imports from Ethiopia to our country was $35.31 million in 2016.

"The overall trade volume in the first 11 months of 2017 between the two countries reached $347.8 million," an official document said.

Addressing the meeting, Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association Deputy Secretary General Wube Mengist said: "Thus far, the trade volume favors Turkey.

"And Ethiopia is working on becoming an industrial hub, this will be an opportunity for both sides.

''Turkey is Ethiopia's important partner and is the largest private employer."