Addis Ababa / Doha — Ethiopia and Qatar have initiated discussions to resume meat exports that were previously suspended, as part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral agricultural cooperation ahead of the upcoming month of Ramadan.
According to a statement from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Minister Addisu Arega met on Thursday with the Qatari Ambassador to Ethiopia, Saad bin Mubarak Al-Naimi. The talks focused primarily on restoring Ethiopia’s meat exports to the Qatari market, which had been interrupted due to technical and logistical challenges.
The ministry said both sides reviewed the constraints that led to the suspension of trade and reached a mutual understanding on corrective measures. These steps are expected to enable Ethiopia to begin supplying large volumes of meat products to Qatar starting in Ramadan, a period marked by increased demand for food imports in Gulf countries.
Officials described the planned resumption as a strategic move to strengthen Ethiopia’s livestock export value chain, enhance foreign currency earnings, and reinforce long-standing trade relations with Qatar and the wider Gulf region.
Beyond meat exports, the discussions also explored expanded cooperation in agriculture, including the supply of agricultural inputs, the adoption of modern farming technologies, and opportunities for increased Qatari investment in Ethiopia’s agricultural sector.
The meeting underscores Ethiopia’s efforts to revitalize key export sectors while deepening economic ties with Middle Eastern partners.
