General

       Ethiopia ≈≠is Located in the north-eastern part of Africa, ↑Ωcommonly known as the Horn of Africa, at the cros₽λs-roads between Africa, ∞∞€the Middle East and Asia. The country ♦λ✘has a relatively stable political and economβ→↕ic environment.

      &α§σ∞nbsp;The country has a large population and t∏♠hus potentially one of the largest domestic mar£‌kets in Africa. By virtue of €‍÷its membership of the±£&☆ Common Market for Easte↔₩&εrn and Southern Africa (COMESA✘λ ), embracing 19 countries wi♥∏th a population of over 400 million, Eth♥₹βiopia also enjoys preferenti≠∏ al market access to thes§↑♠e countries.

       Ethio ↔γ•pia qualifies for preferential access •∑Ωto European Union market under the©$" EU’s Everything-But-Arms (E¥‍×♦BA) initiative and to USA ma≤€'rkets under the African G$ π♠rowth and Opportunities ←>‌φAct (AGOA). Accordingly, most Ethio₽ ¶±pian products can enter ≈☆©¶into these markets quota and↔  duty free. Furthermore, a broad∏¶₩ range of manufactured β✔₹goods from Ethiopia a₹‌βre entitled to prefe>Ωrential access under the Generε§alized System of Preferen£∏​ce (GSP) of the USA. No quota restrictions☆≤ are placed on Ethiopian ex£ ×§ports falling under 4800 products≈α¥ currently eligible under the GSP.

       The E∏  thiopian economy is b ±ased on agriculture, which in↓​ 2008/09 contributed approximat<≥•♣ely 43% of the gross domestic product (GD≤‌±P) and 86% of foreign currency earnings. The cou∏✔←ntry is among the top performing ¥±£πeconomies in Sub-Saharan Africa. For the la₹"↕&st six consecutive years (2003/4-2008/09☆π) real GDP grew by an average of 11.5 per"¥₽✔cent per year.

       Ethiopia is end$✘‌owed with abundant natur↕≠al resources.  Altitude♦≠π in Ethiopia ranges from 1∏& §25 meters below sea levβλel in the Danakhil depressions o↑ ←f the Afar region to 4,620 meters a•∑≤bove sea level in the Amhara region. T"★≠↓hus the country has 18  β>major and 49 sub agro-♦≈<ecological zones, each with its ow¶β n agricultural and biological pote≥÷♠≈ntial. It possesses o♥εne of the largest and most divers♥ ₩e genetic resources in the world. Besides, it≤←>γ has the soils and thγ€e climate suitable for the production of a variγ∏>ety of food crops.

     ‌™★≥  The labour law of Ethiopia§'‌, prepared in conformity w∏↔÷λith international laboπφur norms and standards, provides adeq÷₽★λuate provisions for theΩ‌ conclusion and termination of empl→±∏↕oyment contracts with $ ♥safeguards that do not infringe t×σ"¶he rights of investors.  Labour coΩ↑₩st in Ethiopia is relativel׶y low compared to the African average. The n♦γ$≤umber of skilled workers andλ‌$§ technicians is increaβ←✔∑sing steadily as a result of an increase in tα&he number of universities, colleges, ↑≠∑&and vocational and technical training sα‌chools in the country.

Government commitment

       The Ethiopian Gove≈∑★rnment has made commendable effor ↔ts, through legislative and procedu&∞↕™ral reforms, to impro↔÷€ve the investment climate of the ®¶®φcountry and thereby attract more foreign direct ®↔investment. In line with market-orien¶↕ted economic policy, the investment regime has ®‌↔been liberalised through a seri≈¥"©es of Government legislations. Since 1✘✔→∑992, the investment c↓♣"‍ode has been revised three ti'≤☆mes to ensure the part♠βφ✔icipation of more foreign investments in va♠ ♦'rious sectors of the economy.