By Addis Getachew  

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The Turkish Ambassador to Ethiopia said Friday Ankara had increased its collaboration with Addis Ababa in the construction sector.

“Turkey and Ethiopia are key economic partners in many fields including the construction sector,” Fatih Ulusoy said speaking at ‘Addis Build’, the largest event in the construction sector in Ethiopia.

Turkish firms dominated the event with 75 out of the total 120 exhibitors.

Ulusoy said a Turkish firm Yapi Merkezi is currently constructing the Awash-Woldia railway project, which is part of the Ethiopia-Djibouti railway.

“The current investment of Turkey in Ethiopia stands at $2.5 billion,” Ambassador Ulusoy said adding that bilateral trade reaches $440 million.

Several Turkish firms present at the event shared their grievances while speaking to Anadolu Agency.

Nafi Oztufan, sales representative of Dragon Group, a Turkish crusher manufacturing firm which exports to Ethiopia, said the recent measures by the Ethiopian government to devalue its currency will make it more difficult to do business in the country.

He added that Ethiopia was one of the best 20 countries where his company operates.

Muhammed Keles, director-general of WIMAC, a Turkish crane manufacturing company which exports to 80 countries, said the Ethiopian government should consider easing bureaucratic procedures for trade.

“We spend too much time processing papers,” he said.

Organizers of the event are expecting to draw 5,000 visitors in the four-day event, in which 12 countries are taking part.