In an effort to increase foreign investment and business development in Ethiopia and Sudan, members of the World Bank Group Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO) Network carried out a joint business mission to Addis Ababa and Juba, March 1-12, 2008. The PSLOs for Belgium, the Czech Republic and Greece worked together to bring a mixed delegation of 56 company representatives to the two countries to get first hand information on the business environment and identify potential partnerships with national companies. The delegation met with government representatives, including the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi, local EU, UN, AfDB, World Bank, IFC and bilateral aid agency staff, and representatives of local companies in the primary sectors of interest : agro-industry, transport, environment, and finance. Given its success, the mission is likely to the first of many such joint PSLO business delegations to developing countries.

For more information, contact the PSLO for Belgium, Johan Malin of Flanders Investment and Trade : johan.malin@fitagency.be

See press article : http://allafrica.com/stories/200803111228.html