Sharjah Strengthens Ethiopia Trade Ties, Exploring Opportunities in Building Materials and Manufacturing
Sharjah’s business delegation concludes Ethiopia mission after signing a cooperation agreement and exploring opportunities across construction materials, manufacturing, food processing and logistics.
Sharjah is expanding its commercial engagement with Ethiopia as local businesses explore new opportunities in African markets. A recent trade mission led by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), through its Sharjah Export Development Centre, brought together business representatives and government stakeholders to discuss potential partnerships and investment prospects.
The mission included a bilateral business forum, company-to-company meetings and visits to Ethiopian industrial facilities. Its broader objective was to strengthen economic cooperation between the two markets and help Sharjah-based companies explore opportunities beyond the UAE.
Building Materials and Industrial Cooperation in Focus
Among the sectors discussed during the mission were building materials, manufacturing, packaging, food processing, agriculture and logistics. These areas offer potential avenues for commercial cooperation between companies in Sharjah and their Ethiopian counterparts.
For businesses connected to construction and property supply chains, the discussions around building materials and industrial production are particularly relevant. However, no specific real estate development or construction contract was announced as part of the mission.
The delegation also visited selected industrial facilities and economic institutions, including Addis Industry Village, which is affiliated with the Ethiopian Industrial Parks Development Corporation.
These visits provided participating companies with an opportunity to understand local manufacturing capabilities, infrastructure and business requirements while identifying possible areas for future collaboration.
Sharjah Chamber Signs Cooperation Agreement
A key development during the mission was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between SCCI and the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations.
The agreement is intended to strengthen institutional links, encourage bilateral trade and support the development of joint business ventures.
The Sharjah–Ethiopia Business Forum brought together approximately 150 companies from both countries, alongside government representatives and members of their respective business communities.
Participants also held business-to-business meetings and took part in discussions on expanding trade relations and identifying investment opportunities.
Abdallah Sultan Al Owais, chairman of SCCI, highlighted the importance of international partnerships in helping Sharjah’s private sector access new markets and strengthen its competitiveness.
He also pointed to Africa’s potential for greater cooperation in industrial production, food-related industries and trade.
Environmental Services Present Additional Opportunities
The mission also explored possible cooperation in environmental services and waste management.
Ali Salem Almheiri, director of government relations and foreign investments at BEEAH Group, said the meetings and site visits helped the group assess potential areas of collaboration in waste management and environmental treatment.
Such engagement could create opportunities for businesses with expertise in sustainability, environmental technologies and related services to explore the Ethiopian market.
Any future projects or partnerships will depend on further discussions and agreements between the organisations involved.
UAE–Ethiopia Trade Reaches $5.6 Billion
Trade between the UAE and Ethiopia totalled approximately $5.6 billion from 2021 through 2025, according to the figures provided in the announcement.
Of this amount, $4.4 billion represented Ethiopian imports from the UAE, while exports from Ethiopia to the UAE accounted for $1.2 billion.
The trade relationship provides a foundation for businesses seeking to expand commercial activity between the two countries. Agriculture, food processing, manufacturing and building materials were among the sectors identified as offering potential opportunities for Emirati companies.
What This Means for Sharjah Businesses
The trade mission highlights Sharjah’s efforts to help local businesses establish international partnerships and explore new markets. Cooperation in manufacturing and building materials may be of interest to companies involved in construction supply chains, while logistics and environmental services offer additional areas for commercial engagement.
For UAE property industry readers, the building-materials component is the most directly relevant aspect of the announcement. Greater cross-border cooperation in this sector could create opportunities for suppliers and manufacturers, although the mission itself does not confirm new property developments or construction investments.
The next stage will depend on whether the discussions and institutional agreement lead to concrete commercial partnerships, joint ventures or trade arrangements.
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