Cablegate: Russian Business Presence in Ethiopia C-C19-01825

VZCZCXRO1362
OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #2398 2780546
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 050546Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6409
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE
RUEWMFD/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEPADJ/CJTF HOA
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

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

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