On the morning of September 23, 2020, Mr. Ephrem Bouzayhue, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to China visited the China Concrete and Cement-based Products Association(CCPA). Executive President Dr. Xu Yongmo of CCPA and Minister Ephrem conducted a fruitful talk.

Dr. Xu Yongmo extended a warm welcome to Minister Ephrem’s visit, and introduced China’s building materials industry, concrete and cement product industry, infrastructure construction, and member companies’ international business in Ethiopia and other African countries. Dr. Xu further pointed out that China has built many infrastructure projects in Ethiopia, including the Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway (abbreviated as the Yaji Railway, the first electrified railway in East Africa) and Addis Light Rail (the first modern city train in Africa), Addis Ababa-Adama Expressway (the first highway project in Ethiopia), a series of industrial parks, more and more construction projects. The completion and opening to public of the ‘Yaji Railway’ will certainly provide more services and support for Ethiopia’s economic development in the future, and it will also benefit our member companies to investigate and develop in Ethiopia.

Executive President Dr. Xu Yongmo of CCPA  

China has become the main source and main trading partner of Ethiopian Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Ethiopia is also one of the main markets for Chinese products to be exported to Africa. It is also the "Forum on China-Africa Cooperation" (FOCAC) and the "Belt and Road International Summit Forum" (BRI) active participant. China and Ethiopian share common interests. Through the gradual implementation of some specific cooperation results, Ethiopia is expected to become a model of successful China-Africa cooperation. This year is the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Ethiopia. The China- Ethiopia cooperative partnership will be further strengthened. Minister Ephrem further introduced the current economic situation of Ethiopia: Ethiopia is not only the fastest growing economy in East Africa, but also the largest economy in East Africa. According to the latest "World Investment Report" issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, Ethiopia is one of the five largest economies in Africa that attract foreign direct investment. Minister Ephrem welcomed the CCPA members to visit and invest in Ethiopia.

 Mr. Ephrem Bouzayhue, Minister Plenipotentiary of the Embassy of Ethiopia to China

Dr. Xu Yongmo and Minister Ephrem had in-depth exchanges on the following topics: scientific and technological innovation, technology transfer, vocational skills training, industry standards and mutual cooperation. The two sides discussed CCPA members’ visits to Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Embassy’s participation in CCPA annual convention and Expo on December 2020 in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Dr. Xu Yongmo also mentioned the current status of the investment and product operation of Chongqing Sansheng Building Materials in Ethiopia, the representative of member enterprises of CCPA, and hopes to get further assistance and support from the Ethiopian Embassy to China to expand their business in Ethiopia and solve some of the problems faced.

Philip Huang, Huang Ling, Yonathan G Simon,Ephrem Bouzayhue,Xu Yongmo,Chen Yu, Chen Long

The visit of Minister Ephrem of the Ethiopian Embassy to China opened the door for close cooperation between CCPA and the Ethiopian Embassy. CCPA will further make every effort to assist interested members to enter the Ethiopian and surrounding African markets. Mr. Yonathan G Simon, First Secretary of the Embassy and Mr. Philip Huang, Business Officer of the Embassy, Dr. Chen Yu, Director of the Science and Technology Department of CCPA, Ms.Huang Ling, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of CCPA, and Mr. Chen Long, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of CCPA, participated this discussion.