The UK’s Department of International Trade (DIT) in collaboration with Grant Thornton organized a forum in Addis Ababa aimed at growing Ethiopian businesses by matching them with UK investors.
Opened by the UK Ambassador to Ethiopia Alastair McPhail; and attended by the FCDO Development Director in Ethiopia, Paul Walters, the event featured the introduction of a UK Deal Room that seeks to promote ties between businesses in the two countries.
In attendance at the forum were about 70 participants from a diverse group of stakeholders including private equity firms, large domestic manufacturers, trading companies and exporters, multinational companies operating in Ethiopia, fintech firms and investment consultancies.
Ethiopia’s MA Country Co-ordinator Mefthe Tilahun presented an overview of the Manufacturing Africa program, our services to manufacturing companies and investors as well as the MA deal-screening process.
In addition to the introduction of MA, there was an engaging panel discussion on private equity investing in Ethiopia.
The event garnered interest from business leaders who welcomed the support especially at this difficult time in global trade. The forum was covered widely on print and TV platforms.