- Ambassador Oumer H. Oba Promotes Ethiopia as a Gateway to African Markets; Business Leaders Explore Cooperation in Leather, Sports Goods, Surgical Instruments and Textiles
SIALKOT, Pakistan: Ethiopia and Pakistan have taken another step towards strengthening bilateral relations through climate diplomacy, trade promotion and business-to-business engagement, as H.E. Dr. Oumer Hussien Oba, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to Pakistan, concluded a day-long business visit to Sialkot on Tuesday.
Accompanied by a delegation from the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad, Ambassador Oba engaged with academic institutions, environmental advocates and the business community to explore practical avenues for cooperation between Ethiopia and one of Pakistan’s leading export-oriented industrial cities.
The visit focused on climate resilience, sustainable development, trade and investment, with activities organised in collaboration with the University of Sialkot and the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
Green Legacy Initiative Strengthens Climate Cooperation
The ambassador’s programme began with a tree-plantation drive involving students and faculty members of the University of Sialkot, followed by a Green Legacy Forum. The activities reflected the shared commitment of Ethiopia and Pakistan to environmental protection, climate resilience and sustainable development.
faculty members of the University of Sialkot, followed by a Green Legacy Forum
The engagement also built on ongoing cooperation between the Ethiopian Embassy and the University of Sialkot to promote climate diplomacy and raise awareness of the importance of environmental stewardship.
Ambassador Dr. Oumer H. Oba appreciated the university for its role in strengthening bilateral cooperation, emphasising that climate diplomacy represents a shared development priority for Ethiopia and Pakistan, particularly among countries of the Global South.
He highlighted the importance of collaborative environmental initiatives in addressing climate challenges while supporting long-term prosperity and sustainable growth.
Mr. Faisal Manzoor, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the University of Sialkot, appreciated Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Initiative, describing it as an important example for Pakistan in addressing environmental challenges through large-scale plantation and public participation.
The forum provided an opportunity to promote knowledge-sharing and encourage closer collaboration between educational institutions and diplomatic missions on environmental sustainability.
Ethiopia Presents New Opportunities for Sialkot’s Business Community
The visit also featured extensive engagement with Sialkot’s business community, highlighting the potential for stronger commercial ties between Pakistani exporters and Ethiopian enterprises.
At the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Ambassador Oba participated in a Business Forum where he outlined Ethiopia’s competitive advantages as an investment and manufacturing destination.
He highlighted the country’s skilled workforce, access to competitively priced and sustainable energy, regional economic integration and potential to serve as a gateway to wider African markets.
The ambassador encouraged Sialkot-based entrepreneurs and exporters to explore Ethiopia’s economic potential, establish business partnerships and consider investment opportunities in sectors where the two countries possess complementary strengths.
He also invited representatives of the Sialkot business community to join a trade and investment delegation to Ethiopia that the Ethiopian Embassy in Islamabad is planning for early 2027.
The proposed visit is expected to provide Pakistani businesses with opportunities to explore the Ethiopian market, engage with potential partners and assess prospects for trade, investment and industrial collaboration.
Sialkot Identifies Opportunities in Key Export Industries
Mr. Asad Naseer Malik, Senior Vice President of the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry, highlighted the potential for expanding commercial cooperation in sectors where Sialkot has established a strong international reputation.
These include leather and leather products, surgical instruments, sports goods and textiles, alongside opportunities in the culinary and food-related sectors.
He emphasised the importance of exploring new markets, developing commercial partnerships and connecting Sialkot’s export-oriented industries with emerging opportunities in Ethiopia.
Closer engagement could help businesses on both sides identify new customers, diversify export destinations and develop mutually beneficial supply-chain relationships.
The discussions underscored the potential to connect Sialkot’s manufacturing expertise with Ethiopia’s industrial development ambitions and its wider regional market opportunities.
Nizam Sons Group Meeting Explores Industrial Collaboration
As part of his visit, Ambassador Oba also visited the Nizam Sons Group, where he met its Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ameen Ahsan.
The meeting explored opportunities for bilateral cooperation in sports goods, leather products and aviation, reflecting the potential to expand collaboration between Ethiopian and Pakistani businesses across multiple industries.
The engagement provided an opportunity to discuss areas of mutual interest and consider how private-sector partnerships could contribute to stronger trade and investment relations.
Given Sialkot’s established manufacturing and export capabilities, closer links with Ethiopian companies could create opportunities for market expansion, industrial cooperation and long-term commercial partnerships.
Climate and Economic Diplomacy: A Shared Vision for the Global South
The ambassador’s visit demonstrated how environmental cooperation and economic diplomacy can complement one another in strengthening Ethiopia-Pakistan relations.
The plantation drive and Green Legacy Forum highlighted a shared commitment to sustainability, while the business engagements focused on translating bilateral goodwill into tangible economic opportunities.
For Ethiopia, engagement with Sialkot offers an opportunity to connect with a globally recognised export hub and encourage Pakistani businesses to explore its industrial, commercial and regional market potential. For Sialkot’s entrepreneurs, Ethiopia presents avenues to diversify trade, establish partnerships and expand their presence in African markets.
The planned trade and investment delegation to Ethiopia in early 2027 could serve as a practical next step in advancing these objectives.
Through continued engagement among diplomatic missions, academic institutions, chambers of commerce and private-sector enterprises, Ethiopia and Pakistan can further strengthen their partnership in sustainable development, trade, investment and industrial cooperation.
The Sialkot visit reaffirmed the value of people-to-people and business-to-business diplomacy in building a stronger, more diversified and mutually beneficial Ethiopia-Pakistan relationship.
BY: The Times Union
