Tunis — Tunisia's Industry, Trade and Handicrafts Union UTICA and the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce (ECC) signed Wednesday a draft agreement to set up a Tunisian-Ethiopian Business Council.

The draft agreement was signed by Taoufik Mlayah, Head of the International Relations Commission of the UTICA and Mrs Mulu Solomon, Chairwoman of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce, on the occasion of the ECC delegation's visit to Tunis.

Taoufik Mlayah said that the setting up of the Tunisian-Ethiopian Business Council is part of developing bilateral economic relations and reinforcing relations of partnership between Tunisian and Ethiopian businessmen.

Mrs. Solomon stressed for her part that this council will endeavour to boost relations between the two countries' business communities and incite them to make better use of the investment opportunities available in the two markets.

Ethiopia is Tunisia's first trade partner in Subsaharan Africa.

The amount of trade exchanges between the two countries stood at 170,9 Million Dinars in 2011 with a surplus of 169 MTD for Tunisia.