article from: usembassy.gov
Los Angeles Trade Delegation Visits Addis Ababa in Connection with the Inaugural Los Angeles-Addis Ababa Ethiopian Airlines Flight
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, June 18, 2015 – From June 22 to 25, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa, through its Foreign Commercial Service office, will host a trade and business delegation of members from the Los Angeles World Airports, the Los Angeles Tourism and Convention Board, and the City of Los Angeles to celebrate Ethiopian Airlines’ new service from Addis Ababa to Los Angeles, via Dublin, Ireland.
On June 22, the delegation will arrive at Bole International Airport on the inaugural Ethiopian Airlines flight from Los Angeles, California. During their visit in Ethiopia, the American delegation will meet with the Ethiopian Minister of Trade and Industry, the Mayor of Addis Ababa, the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce, and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, for networking and business-to-business discussions. On June 23, the Los Angeles-based delegation will host a “Discover LA reception” to share more about the exciting business and tourism opportunities that Los Angeles has to offer.
“U.S. companies are continually evaluating new markets in order to grow their business. We are excited about the opportunities this new flight from Los Angeles will bring—globally bridging the two markets,” commented Tanya Cole, Senior Commercial Specialist with the U.S. Commercial Service in Ethiopia. “There are many opportunities for doing business in Ethiopia, including an investment climate of double digit growth, a growing youth and middle income population, and the highest growth reported in Africa, not to mention the first class award winning Ethiopian Airlines and the new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.”
Sub-Saharan Africa is the world’s second fastest-growing region and home to six of the 10 fastest-growing economies, including Ethiopia. With economic growth predicted to reach 4.5 percent in 2015, the region is outpacing global average growth. U.S. goods exports to sub-Saharan Africa increased by 6 percent, reaching a record $25.4 billion in 2014. In August 2014, President Obama announced $7 billion in new financing to promote U.S. exports to and investments in Africa as part of his Doing Business in Africa campaign.
The newly opened Department of Commerce Foreign Commercial Service Office located in the U.S. Embassy Addis Ababa has been established to help U.S. businesses do business in Ethiopia. The commercial and economic team supports companies through market briefings, trade missions, market research studies, partner searches, advocacy with Government of Ethiopia officials for tender projects, business matchmaking and market entry strategies.
