Mr. Kebede Abera, Consul-General of Consulate General of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Chongqing:Chongqing Helps Ethiopian Coffee Industry Expand Asian-Paci fi c Markets

□ Article/Journalist Xiong Yi Photo by Wang Qi

Mr. Kebede Abera, Consul-General of Consulate General of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Chongqing:Chongqing Helps Ethiopian Coffee Industry Expand Asian-Paci fi c Markets

□ Article/Journalist Xiong Yi Photo by Wang Qi

“Chongqing, a mountain city, is known by roiling landscapes, whose beauty is very special for me.After dinner, I often have a walk along the Jialing River with my family. It's beautiful to watch Yuzhong District from Jiangbei District.” Mr. Kebede Abera said. This September marks the half-way point of his term, but Mr. Kebede Abera is accustomed to working and living in Chongqing. On August 16, he accepts the reporter's exclusive interview and expresses his views on Chongqing.

The Eyewitness of Chongqing’s Daily Changes

In September 2015, Mr. Kebede Abera took the post of Consul-General of Consulate General of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Chongqing. Coming from northeast Africa to Chongqing, a city located in southwest of China, he felt familiar with Chongqing out of tastes. “I an fond of Chongqing food, especially spicy and delicious hot pots, whose spicy fl avors are similar to our Ethiopian food.” Mr. Kebede Abera soon fell in love with the city for its spicy and testy food and for its straightforward and friendly local people.

Chongqing is known by toothsome food and picturesque scenery. When he first came to the city,he coincided with the short but eye-catching autumn.The sky was totally clean, which was suitable for the night view of this city. “I am really shocked by attracting scenes, especially those in the convergence of the Jialing River and the Yangtze River.” Mr. Kebede Abera said, it is Chongqing's continuous improvement of infrastructure and lighting planning and maintenance that create such charming night scenes. “After dinner, I often have a walk along the Jialing River with my family.It's beautiful to watch Yuzhong District from Jiangbei District.” As a saying goes, do in Rome as Rome does,living near the river makes Mr. Kebede Abera gradually enjoy the leisure and happiness brought by it. He has same preferences to the water as local people do.

Consulate General of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Chongqing is located at Jiefangbei CBD,the most prosperous area in Yuzhong district. On his way to and from two places, namely home and his office, he views scenes along the way can be seen as the trajectory of growth. “Over the past two years, I have witnessed great changes of the city.” Mr. Kebede Abera said, moving from districts to districts, I can seemany working tower cranes and large machinery. “Months later, a new towering building springs up at construction sites where I have passed frequently. These changes show the speedy development of the city.”

Over the past two years, Mr. Kebede Abera has experienced the rapid development of Chongqing transportation.

“In the past, we drove for 4 hours from Chongqing to Chengdu for official business. When Chengdu-Chongqing high-speed rail was set up in 2015, it only took 2 hours which was a huge leap.”Mr. Kebede Abera said that the end of this year marks the open of Chongqing-Guizhou high-speed rail which is from Chongqing to Guiyang, the provincial capital of Guizhou. It only takes about 2 hours. “At the end of this August, terminal 3 of Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport will be put into use. It is designed for Airbus 308 and Boeing 787, etc. The airport will attract more and more airlines to open international flights in Chongqing.” He said that Chongqing is closer to the world.

In mid-August, Mr. Kebede Abera was back to Chongqing after vacation with his wife and four children, and submerged himself into fast-paced work immediately. His daily work covers negotiation with Chongqing government departments and enterprises, giving reception to business delegations of Ethiopian government, and paying visits to cooperative units in Sichuan and Guizhou.

Expanding Asian-Pacific coffee market through cooperation with Chongqing Coffee Exchange

Chongqing, the only municipality in mid-west China, links “The Belt and Road” and the Yangtze Economic Belt. In recent years, the openness of Chongqing-Sinkiang-Europe International Railway serves Chongqing a new way to the west. Besides the Yangtze River waterway links the east part of China through River-and-Sea Coordinated Transport. To some extent, Chongqing is the junction which connects the east and the west of China.

Mr. Kebede Abera said Ethiopia views “The Belt and Road” a cross-continent initiative for development. It aims at promoting economic growth and optimizing resources allocation for countries along the Belt and Road, achieving market upgrades and regional prosperity, and jointly building political mutual trust. Besides,it strengthens economic integration, keeps trade smoothly flowing and flourishes people-to-people exchanges. Meanwhile,it also opens to other countries that are not along the Belt and Road,which brings benefits to countries and regions around the world. For many Chinese enterprises, it is a great platform that makes them “go out” and realize globalization.

Mr. Kebede Abera introduced that recently Chongqing has frequent economic and trade contacts and investments with Ethiopia.Chongqing Sansheng Industrial Limited Cooperation has set up medicinal materials company and building materials company in Ethiopia and plans to open hospitals and a vocational education mega center through cooperating with other companies.

“Ethiopia is home to the highest-quality coffee beans. Chongqing Energy invests in and sets up Chongqing Coffee Exchange. After a year's rapid development, the exchange has been the largest coffee trading platform in China and is expected to become the largest one in Asia in the future.” Mr. Kebede Abera especially pointed out that Chongqing Energy signs memorandum of understanding with Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Administration so that the best coffee in Ethiopia will be brought to Chongqing. Then the best Ethiopian coffee will reach throughout the whole China and even coffee markets in Asian-Pacific region through Chongqing Coffee Exchange.

Mr. Kebede Abera regarded that Chongqing Pilot Free Trade Area responses actively to the Belt and Road Initiative and links the 21st century Maritime Silk Road and Yangtze River Economic Zone.With the convenience provided by Chongqing-Sinkiang-Europe International Railway, the free trade area will improve Chongqing status in international trade cooperation.

“According to plan, in the second half of this year, 10 containers of Ethiopian coffee products will arrive in Chongqing. I am sure that local people will love them.” Mr. Kebede Abera is proud of their coffee and plans to bring “coffee ceremony”, a unique coffee culture in Ethiopia, to China. “We are also on track to cooperate with Chinese companies to take advanced coffee baking, grinding and packaging technology back to Ethiopia and set up well-known Ethiopian coffee brands.”

(The pictures are authorized by Consulate General of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia in Chongqing. The copyright is owned by the original author and shall not be reproduced without permission)