Addis ababa: Brazil has opened a permanent office of its Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) in Addis Ababa, aiming to strengthen economic, trade, and investment ties with Ethiopia and expand its business engagement across the African market. The inauguration of the office brought together senior Ethiopian and Brazilian government officials, business community representatives, and diplomats.
According to Ethiopian News Agency, Commissioner of the Ethiopian Investment Commission, Zeleke Temesgen, stated that the establishment of the ApexBrasil permanent office in Addis Ababa marks the beginning of a tangible strategic alignment between Ethiopia and Brazil. He emphasized that the office will play a significant role in removing information barriers for investors, providing market intelligence, and strengthening business-to-business connections between the two countries. The Commissioner highlighted opportunities to combine Brazil's technology-driven agricultural expertise with Ethiopia's vast agricultural potential, particularly in coffee, improved seeds, livestock, and modern agribusiness. He reaffirmed the Ethiopian Investment Commission's commitment to supporting Brazilian companies seeking to enter and invest in the Ethiopian market.
Brazilian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Jandyr Ferreira dos Santos, expressed that the opening of the permanent ApexBrasil office represents a new chapter in the economic relationship between the two countries. He noted that the establishment of the office reflects the progress achieved in bilateral relations and the ambition to elevate their economic partnership. The ambassador stated that the new office will enable Brazilian companies to better understand the Ethiopian market, identify local partners, access market intelligence, and develop trade and investment opportunities. He identified agriculture, agribusiness, aviation, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and renewable energy as areas offering significant potential for cooperation.
Ambassador Jandyr also highlighted the growing political and institutional relations between Ethiopia and Brazil, noting their shared membership in BRICS as an additional framework for strengthening economic cooperation, including trade, investment, and joint industrialization projects. The permanent presence of ApexBrasil in Addis Ababa is expected to foster continuity in business engagement, enabling potential opportunities to develop into concrete investments, partnerships, and job-creating projects. The office will serve as a bridge between Brazilian and Ethiopian businesses and a platform for expanding Brazil's economic engagement with Ethiopia, East Africa, and the wider African continent.
Director General for Europe and the Americas at Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Meles Alem, stated that the establishment of the ApexBrasil office marks a new era in the economic partnership between Ethiopia and Brazil. He emphasized the office's role in enhancing trade and investment ties, facilitating business partnerships, and promoting concrete engagement between Ethiopian and Brazilian businesses. Ambassador Meles noted the longstanding relationship between the two nations, which will celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations this year. He described Addis Ababa as a strategic location for the office due to its role as the political and diplomatic hub of Africa and its position as a gateway to the continent's business community.
The ambassador highlighted Ethiopia's direct air connectivity with Brazil and its potential to serve as a gateway to the African Continental Free Trade Area, providing Brazilian companies with access to the wider African market. He assured that the Ethiopian government would provide the necessary support for the effective and timely operationalization of the regional office.
President of ApexBrasil, Laudemir Mller, remarked that the opening of the office marks a new chapter in Brazil's partnership with Africa, particularly with Ethiopia. He noted that Africa has become a priority for Brazil due to its young population, agricultural potential, critical mineral resources, and longstanding cultural ties with Brazil. Mller explained that Ethiopia was selected for ApexBrasil's first African office because of its economic growth, large population, BRICS membership, and strategic position as a logistics hub connecting Africa and the Middle East.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency