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'Unlocking Opportunities': Ethiopian Minister Reflects on Joint Commission Meeting With Russia

The Co-Chairs of the Intergovernmental Russian-Ethiopian Commission on Economic, Scientific, Technical and Trade Cooperation met in Addis Ababa this week. In the wake of the event, Sputnik Africa sat down with the co-chair from the Ethiopian side to discuss trade and economic relations between Moscow and Addis Ababa at the current stage.
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The meeting of the intergovernmental commission marked "a positive step" in strengthening cooperation between Russia and Ethiopia in the economic and technological spheres, Dr Belete Molla, Ethiopia's Minister of Innovation and Technology, told Sputnik Africa.
He noted that the meeting focused on discussing practical steps to "unlock opportunities" in trade, investment and joint projects.
"Agreements were reached on varies aspects that could provide a foundation for future collaboration. The meeting also served as a midterm review of the Commission's work, suggesting a focus on identifying areas for improvement and ensuring progress towards set goals," the minister pointed out.
Noting that the meeting discussed the "low level of current trade" between Moscow and Addis Ababa "despite their long-standing relationship," he said that a focus on practical cooperation could result in initiatives to bolster bilateral trade. Such steps include investments in infrastructure or joint ventures in manufacturing, Molla explained.
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After the commission, the Russian-Ethiopian business forum was held in Addis Ababa. The forum included business sessions devoted to geological exploration and subsoil use, agriculture and industry, transportation, energy, IT and cybersecurity.
Trade turnover between Russia and Ethiopia increased 2.4 times in the first nine months of 2023 and amounted to $106 million, Evgeny Petrov, the head of the Russian agency for subsoil use, said at the forum.