President Duda encourages Polish firms to invest in Africa

He said that the Ursus venture in the city of Adama was possible thanks to an agreement concluded in 2013 between the two countries, which has led to “special credit lines [by Poland] to implement production and cooperation tasks between Poland and Ethiopia”.

“This is part of the GoAfrica business programme set up by the Polish government,” Duda said.

“I would like as many Polish entrepreneurs and Polish companies as possible to make use of this programme, to become interested in the African market, because these are huge countries with great potential,” he added.

Ursus estimates that the value of contracts at its Ethiopia arm over the last four years amounted to some USD 110 million.

In the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, Duda wants to meet officials from the African Union, which groups all countries in Africa.

Addis Ababa is also where the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa is based.

Poland wants to gain the support of African countries for its efforts for a place on the UN Security Council in 2018-2019.

The Security Council consists of five veto-wielding permanent members (China, France, Russia, the UK and US), and 10 non-permanent members elected by the organisation’s General Assembly for a term of two years.

One non-permanent place goes to a country from Eastern Europe.

Poland has been engaged in a flurry of diplomatic efforts in recent months to seek support for its bid to be chosen as a non-permanent member.

A vote on accepting new, non-permanent members takes place in June. (rg/pk)