Ethiopia woos Pakistani industry, eyes stronger Global South trade ties
LAHORE (News Desk): Ethiopia is seeking to deepen economic cooperation with Pakistan by mobilizing industrial players for its third trade and investment delegation, positioning stronger South-South cooperation as a pathway to trade diversification, industrial development and economic growth across the Global South.
The Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad has engaged with leading industrialists and corporate executives in Lahore, Sialkot and Sheikhupura to encourage participation in the upcoming delegation to Ethiopia, scheduled for January 24–29, 2027.
Led by Ethiopian Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Oumer Hussien Oba, the embassy’s five-day engagement focused on identifying investment opportunities and expanding bilateral commercial partnerships across agriculture, pharmaceuticals, steel, textiles, leather, automobiles and aviation.
The initiative comes as developing economies increasingly seek to strengthen trade and investment links among themselves, reduce dependence on traditional markets and explore new avenues for industrial collaboration.
During the Punjab visit, the Ethiopian delegation held meetings with prominent Pakistani business leaders, including Forward Sports CEO Khawaja Masood, Netsol Technologies CEO Salim Ghauri, Ferozsons Laboratories CEO Osman Khalid Waheed, Highnoon CEO Dr Adeel Abbas, Millat Group CEO Raheel Asghar, Nizamsons CEO Ameen Ahsan and Fatima Group Director Abbas Mukhtar.
The delegation also visited industrial facilities belonging to Fatima Group, Atlas Honda, Mughal Steel and two units at Sundar Industrial Estate to explore potential areas of commercial and industrial cooperation.
Engagements were also held at the Sheikhupura Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the presence of its President Imran Zahid, Senior Vice President Asif Saeed Mughal and Global Business Community Club Founder and Group Head Manzoor ul Haq Malik.
Pakistani industrial representatives reportedly appreciated Ethiopia’s economic transformation and expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with the East African country across multiple sectors.
The proposed delegation is expected to provide Pakistani businesses with an opportunity to assess Ethiopia’s investment climate, explore partnerships with local enterprises and identify opportunities for market expansion.
For Pakistan, stronger engagement with Ethiopia could open additional avenues in African markets for its pharmaceutical products, engineering goods, textiles, agricultural expertise and automotive industries. For Ethiopia, Pakistani industrial investment and technical expertise could support its manufacturing and industrial development ambitions.
The initiative also carries a broader Global South dimension, as stronger economic partnerships between Asian and African economies could contribute to regional connectivity, industrial capacity-building and diversified trade flows.
However, translating the proposed engagement into tangible economic gains will depend on concrete investment agreements, market access, financing arrangements and sustained private-sector collaboration.
The third Ethiopian trade and investment delegation is expected to build on the embassy’s efforts to convert diplomatic engagement into practical business partnerships between the two countries.