United States Participates in International Trade Fair: USA Booth Highlights U.S. – Ethiopia Trade

February 17, 2005
No. 10/05

Addis Ababa (U.S. Embassy) – On February 17, 2005, U.S. Ambassador Aurelia E. Brazeal inaugurated the USA Booth at the 9th Addis Chamber International Trade Fair at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Centre.  The USA Booth, organized by the U.S. Embassy in Addis with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID/Ethiopia) and the U.S. Departments of State and Commerce, marks the first participation by the United States in this annual event.

U.S. participation in the Trade Fair provides a unique opportunity to promote business linkages between the United States and Ethiopia and highlights the growing U.S.-Ethiopian commercial relationship.  In 2004, U.S.-Ethiopian bilateral trade totaled approximately $500 million, and Ethiopian exports to the United States grew by 35% last year.  Bilateral trade is expected to continue to expand in 2005.   The U.S. Government is actively supporting private-sector development in Ethiopia through programs such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which allows duty-free entry to the U.S. market of approximately 6,000 products, and USAID’s newly launched Growing Ethiopian Markets (GEM) project, a technical-assistance program focused on supporting key export sectors.  

The USA Booth will give Trade Fair participants the chance to obtain publications and take advantage of resources on U.S. support for private-sector development in Ethiopia and to gain practical information on how to do business in the United States.   A variety of special activities will take place in conjunction with the USA Booth.  They include a Counseling Corner, where expert staff will be available to discuss programs such as AGOA and GEM and to provide information about such trade-development techniques as using the Internet to learn about U.S. products and services.  In addition, the U.S. Embassy will present a special seminar, “Doing Business with the United States,” which will be held at the Hilton Hotel on February 22; registration information is available at the USA Booth.