RUSSIAN BUSINESS PRESENCE IN ETHIOPIA C-C19-01825

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002398 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PINR BBSR ECON EINV ET SUBJECT: RUSSIAN BUSINESS PRESENCE IN ETHIOPIA C-C19-01825 REF: STATE 88241 Responses to questions 1.A. through 1.F. ¶A. No, there is no Russian Trade representation in Ethiopia B No major Russian companies operate in Ethiopia. There is some speculation about activity in the Defense industry, but that information is not public. ¶C. Due to the lack of Russian companies in Ethiopia, we can assume the revenue is negligible. ¶D. While there have been several sets of negotiations, and the granting of a contract, there has been no actual investment to date. Sectors of interest have been the mining industry (a Russian company received a contract, but was not able to provide the performance bond, and so lost the contract) and importing flowers from Ethiopia's growing flower market. ¶E. Ethiopia and Russia have sought cooperation since their joint economic and trade commission in November 1999, but nothing has come to fruition. There is no evidence of Russian tourism in Ethiopia. ¶F. There are approximately a dozen Russian citizens living in Ethiopia permanently, in addition to 352 Russians affiliated with the Russian Embassy and the Russian Hospital. MUSHINGI