Ethiopia's cooperation with Moscow could help the East African nation benefit from Russia's advances in technology, industry, culture and trade, President of the Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies Manufacturers Association (EPMSMA) Daniel Waktole told Sputnik Africa on Sunday on the sidelines of RUSSIA EXPO.
Ethiopia's delegation became the first foreign one to participate in this prestigious event, which highlights Russia's achievements in various economic sectors and brings together exhibits from all regions of the country. The Ethiopian delegation included representatives of the Ethiopian diplomatic community in Russia and heads of major industrial companies in the East African country.
Stressing the importance of participating in the EXPO for his country, Waktole said that the event was an opportunity for Ethiopia to learn from Russia's progress in various fields.
"It's a great opportunity for us to learn from Russia, how it's growing, how it's developing technology, how it's also building the capacity of its citizens," he said. "So it's a great experience."
Regarding cooperation between Russia and Ethiopia in the industrial sector, Waktole highlighted the longstanding cooperation history between the two countries and the need for further growth. According to the businessman, Ethiopia's industrial sector is still in its early stages, making potential Russian contributions of great significance.
Ethiopia's emphasis on a homegrown economy creates opportunities for Russian industrial companies to invest, either through direct investments or joint ventures.
"You know, the Ethiopian industrial sector and the Russian industrial sector should join hands to develop the Ethiopian industry. And also, now, Ethiopia is the gateway of Africa. It is the right time for the Russian industrial companies to [come and] invest," Waktole told Sputnik Africa. "Both countries would be beneficiaries."
The head of EPMSMA acknowledged the need for collaboration in sectors such as manufacturing, technology, IT and pharmaceuticals. According to him, Ethiopia's pharmaceutical sector, although still in its infancy, potentially represents a significant market of more than 120 million people.
Waktole believes that Russian companies investing in Ethiopia can greatly benefit from this untapped potential, not only in Ethiopia but also across the African continent.
Highlighting Ethiopia's membership in the BRICS alliance, which the coutry will officially join on January 1, Waktole expressed optimism about the positive impact it would have on Ethiopia's overall development.
In August, at the end of the historic 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, two African countries, namely Ethiopia and Egypt, were approved to become full club members.
"This will help Ethiopia in so many aspects, whether it's capacity building, infrastructure, development, banking and financing, financial support," Waktole said. "It is tremendous."