Ethiopian exporters have struck over 340 million dollars in trade deals with Chinese buyers during a business forum in the capital, as government officials push local firms to capitalize on tariff-free access to one of the world's largest consumer markets.
The pack, involving more than 40 Addis Chamber member companies across coffee, soybeans, leather and sesame, were finalized at a business-to-business event co-hosted by the Addis Chamber, the Chinese Embassy and China's Ministry of Commerce.
The forum marked the latest effort to deepen economic ties between the two nations, which have strengthened significantly over the past decade amid China's growing appetite for African agricultural commodities.
Chinese officials described the deals as evidence of surging demand for Ethiopian agricultural and processed goods, sectors that have attracted particular interest from Chinese importers seeking to diversify their supply chains.
Zhang Hui, deputy director-general of China's foreign trade department, reaffirmed Ethiopia's status as a priority trade partner and urged exporters to uphold quality and competitive pricing to sustain the momentum.
He noted that China's import policies continue to favor African nations under broader Belt and Road Initiative cooperation frameworks.
Trade Minister Kassahun Gofe (Phd) described the zero-tariff policy as a game-changer for local businesses, encouraging them to ramp up production and meet Chinese quality standards. The policy, which grants Ethiopian goods duty-free access to Chinese markets, has been in effect since 2020 and covers nearly all products exported by Ethiopia.
Addis Chamber Secretary General Zakarias Assefa said the forum aimed to help local companies build direct connections with Chinese buyers and reduce reliance on middlemen, a long-standing challenge that has often eroded profit margins for Ethiopian producers.
Ambassador Chen Hai highlighted the unprecedented potential of China's 1.4-billion-person market, while cautioning that global competition requires consistent quality and reliability.
He emphasized that Ethiopian exporters must view the Chinese market not as a short-term opportunity but as a long-term partnership requiring sustained investment in quality control and logistics.
Chamber officials noted that the 340 million dollars total represents one of the largest single-trade outcomes between Ethiopian exporters and Chinese partners in recent years, signaling growing confidence among Chinese buyers in Ethiopian products and the country's export capacity.
