ANKARA – The President of the Ethiopian
Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, Sebsib Abafira Abajobir, stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan played an effective role in bringing Ethiopia and Somalia together to establish peace, emphasizing that this development would strengthen trade relations between the two nations.
The remarks came during the Türkiye–Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF) held last week in Ankara under the auspices of the Turkish Ministry of Trade, in coordination with the African Union and organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEİK). The forum’s Global Communication Partner was Anadolu Agency (AA).
In an interview with AA, Abajobir highlighted the peace talks between Ethiopia and Somalia held in Ankara last December under Türkiye’s mediation, underlining Türkiye’s growing role in promoting peace and stability across Africa.
“President Erdoğan played an exemplary role in bringing the two nations together to establish peace and security,” Abajobir said. “Such positive developments will strengthen economic and trade relations in the future, as trade and investment thrive in an environment of peace and security.”
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“Africa Needs Trade, Not Aid”
Abajobir stressed that for Africa’s sustainable development, advanced economies should focus on promoting trade rather than making the continent dependent on aid.
“In the past, experts from developed countries were more focused on aid rather than trade,” he noted. “The world—especially developing nations—should now prioritize trade over aid.”
He praised President Erdoğan’s closing remarks at TABEF, in which he emphasized the importance of cooperation and solidarity among nations:
“This is truly vital for developing countries, including Ethiopia,” Abajobir said. “Such collaborations enable mutual learning, experience sharing, and technology transfer. Strengthening cooperation between developed and developing nations, as well as among developing countries themselves, is of great importance. As President Erdoğan said, cooperation is indeed essential.”
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Türkiye–Ethiopia Relations
Abajobir highlighted the long-standing and strong relations between the governments of Türkiye and Ethiopia, noting that Ethiopia has entered a reform era focused on economic development.
“The reformist government is giving particular importance to the economy, pursuing a localized economic program that implements macroeconomic, financial, structural, and sectoral reforms,” he explained.
He also mentioned Ethiopia’s progress in launching the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative and its ongoing efforts to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), both of which are creating an investment-friendly environment for the private sector.
Inviting Turkish investors to explore opportunities in Ethiopia, Abajobir said:
“This favorable environment is already attracting Turkish investors, particularly in the textile sector. We also welcome and support investment in agriculture, mining, tourism, information and communication technologies, and digitalization. Ethiopia is open to creating a strong and supportive investment climate.”
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Abajobir concluded by emphasizing that Türkiye’s constructive diplomacy and mediation efforts not only contribute to regional peace but also open new doors for economic cooperation and trade expansion between Ethiopia, Somalia, and the broader African continent.
Source: Anadolu Ajansı/ Prepared by: İlayda Gök