Ethiopia is hosting the Addis-Sharjah Business Forum this week to strengthen trade relations and investment flows between Ethiopian businesses and enterprises from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. The event brings together manufacturers, service providers, exporters and importers from Ethiopia with executives and investors based in Sharjah operating across multiple economic sectors, according to the organizers.
The forum is being jointly organized by the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations, Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the UAE Embassy in Ethiopia, and the Ethiopian Embassy in the UAE. The Addis Chamber has prepared local participants from key growth sectors including manufacturing, agriculture, services, and trade to take part in the business-to-business platform.
A major focus of the event will be the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Addis Chamber and the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The agreement aims to strengthen institutional cooperation in trade and investment promotion and build closer links between the business communities in both regions. The sessions are designed to facilitate commercial partnerships, unlock investment opportunities, and expand international market access for participating businesses while making local companies more competitive globally.
The forum reflects growing economic ties between Ethiopia and the UAE. According to event organizers, bilateral trade surpassed $6 billion in 2025, highlighting the strategic importance of deepening commercial collaboration between the two countries. The Addis Chamber has been leading efforts to attract foreign direct investment to Ethiopia, particularly to Addis Ababa, through organizing trade delegations, facilitating international commercial partnerships, and opening global market access channels for local enterprises.
For Ethiopian businesses and investors, the forum offers direct access to Sharjah-based capital and commercial networks, potentially opening pathways to new funding sources and customer bases in the UAE and beyond.