File photo shows participants attend the China (Shenzhen) Trade and Investment Promotion Meeting and Shenzhen Products show in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, June 19, 2017. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)
ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government said on Friday that its delegation has finalized the preparation for the upcoming first China International Import Expo (CIIE) scheduled to be held from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, China.
"Ethiopian delegation composed of representatives of various government agencies, private sector actors and sector associations finalized preparations to take part in this Expo," the Ethiopian Ministry of Trade said in a statement on Friday.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian exporters, who make up the east African country's delegation, also stressed the vital importance of the high-level expo for Ethiopian producers and exporters to meet with potential buyers, eventually expanding their Chinese market share.
Haile Berhe, President of Ethiopian Pulses, Oilseeds and Spices Processors-Exporters Association, told Xinhua on Friday he hoped that the CIIE would further foster Ethiopia's share in Chinese market, which has already become a requisite for investments in pulses, oil-seeds and spices sub-sector.
"The Chinese market is already very essential for our major export commodities, yet we also believe that there is still room to further strengthen our presence there," Berhe said.
"Our association, with more than 130 active members, highly promotes our members to participate in the CIIE as well as other trade fairs and expos so as to assess opportunities that are available in linking up with our Chinese counterparts," he added.
Alfoz Plc, one of the leading Ethiopian company engaged in coffee harvesting, processing and export, is also interested in a plan to boost its presence in Chinese market with the help of the upcoming import expo.
"We have conducted studies recently and we have found out that there is a vast coffee market in China," Yohanis Addis, Alfoz Sales and Marketing Manager told Xinhua on Friday.
"We believe the CIIE is an ideal opportunity for us to meet with potential Chinese counterparts who would collaborate with us in order to effectively penetrate in the vast Chinese market," he added.