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2nd U.S.- Ethiopia Investment Forum 2011
October 5, 2011, 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington, D.C.
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I am pleased to extend a very special invitation for you or your representative to participate in the upcoming “Doing Business in Ethiopia: Investment Forum” taking place on Wednesday, October 5, 2011 from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington D.C., 20008. The Forum will focus on investment, trade and tourism opportunities in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia, the second largest domestic market in sub-Saharan Africa with 80 million population, has registered a double digit economic growth over the past seven years. The IMF forecasts that Ethiopia will be the world’s third fastest-growing non-oil producing economy for 2011-2015. This high growth rate has been driven mainly by a rapid growth in agriculture, supported by strong exports, and a boom in the services sector. Despite this remarkable growth, much of Ethiopia's potential remains untapped, especially in the areas of agriculture, manufacturing and tourism. Ethiopia’s vast tracts of arable land, diverse mineral resources and oil and gas potential have started to attract increasing flows of foreign direct investment in recent years.
Ethiopia has recently launched an ambitious five-year Growth and Transformation plan (GTP), which targets an economic growth of a minimum 11.2% and high scenario of 14.9%. The plan forecasts rapid growth across all sectors and envisions Ethiopia to be on the fast track to becoming a middle income country by 2025. It envisages doubling of the GDP in five years as well as huge expansion of infrastructure, including power, telecommunications, roads and new railway lines. I am confident that your participation on the Forum will give you an insight on how to capitalize on Ethiopia’s expanding business opportunities and allow you to discuss any queries you may have (please find enclosed herewith the draft program of the Forum).
Among the distinguished speakers will be high level policy makers led by H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia and Minister of Foreign Affairs; the Minister of Industry, the Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States, Head of the Ethiopian Investment Agency as well as the U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia. More than 30 Ethiopian companies will also participate on the Forum and display high-quality export products such as coffee, textile and apparel, shoes and other leather products. You will have the opportunity to network with potential partners and listen to current success stories from businesses that have already entered the Ethiopian market.
Kindly RSVP by Friday, September 30 by email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or Tel.: 202-364-6386; 202-274-4557.
I look forward to seeing you at the Forum.
Sincerely,
Tesfaye Yilma Sabo
Ambassador
Schedule of Events:
1:00 - 1:30pm: Registration
1:30pm - 1:50pm
Welcoming remark: by the President, Corporate Council on Africa (CCA)
Welcoming and introduction by H.E. Ato Girma Biru, Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States
Keynote address: High Level Ethiopian Government Delegation Leader H.E. Hailemariam Dessalegn, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Address by H.E. Ambassador Johnny Carson, Assistant Secretary of State/ H.E. Ambassador Donald Yamamato, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs
1:50pm – 2:40pm
Session 1: Stating the case for Investing in Ethiopia
Moderator: Corporate Council on Africa (CCA)
- Mr. Abi Woldemeskel, Ethiopian Investment Agency , Investment and Tourism Potential and Polices
- Mr. Essays Bahire, President, Development Bank of Ethiopia
- Mr. Wallace Odd , Vice President, Morrell Agro Industries
- Mr. Zemedeneh Negatu, Managing Partner, Ernst & Young Ethiopia
2:40 – 2:55 PM
Q & A session
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Coffee Break -2:55 PM-3:15PM
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3:15pm – 4:05 PM
Session II: Doing Business in Ethiopia
Moderator: Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs /Ambassador Taye A. Selassie, Americas Directorate General
- H.E. Mekonnen Manyazewal, Minister of Industry, Ethiopia
- Mr. Beyene G/Meskele, Director, Ethiopia Privatization Agency
- Mr. Gabriel Shultz Global, Private Equity Capital in Ethiopia
- Ms. Samrawit Travel Ethiopia/Tourism in Ethiopia
4:05pm – 4:20 PM
Q & A Session
4:20pm – 4:30 PM
Closing remarks: H.E. Donald Booth, US Ambassador to Ethiopia
Ethiopian High Government Official
Please note that the programme is subject to speaker, session and timing changes |
