The "Israel – Ethiopia Team"

More and more Israeli businessmen and corporations are entering into the Ethiopian market, and today the commercial relations between Israel and Ethiopia, which is located a mere three hours flight time from Israel, are in full swing. The fact that in Israel today there are over 100,000 citizens who are Ethiopian born, together with the geographical nearness of the two countries, and many additional favorable considerations all combine at his time to create an excellent basis for the advancement and development of economic and business relations between the countries. Also, there are several financial organizations in Ethiopia that are showing an interest in the State of Israel, and it is now clear that the commercial activity taking place between the two countries is constantly on the rise. This is true both in reference to the providing of services and sales transactions targeted at the Ethiopian public, and also in reference to a many additional fields of activity.

These days, the Ethiopia – Israel desk has been opened for the first time, with the intent that it will serve as a chamber of commerce for the promotion of business transactions between Israel and Ethiopia, and also the neighboring State of Eritrea. The desk was created by the law firm of Doron Tikotzky and Co., which employs over 40 attorneys, accountants and economists, and which over the years has gathered a great deal of experience in the fields of international business, international business transactions, the accompanying of investors abroad, and the promotion of projects abroad, and it operates in Israel, Romania and Cyprus.

Heading the Ethiopian desk is Eliezer Yasu Gil ESQ., attorney at law, who is Ethiopian born, and possesses a great deal of experience in the fields of business promotion, forming business connections and operating with the Ethiopian authorities on Ethiopian soil, and who also possesses the ability to combine between his familiarity and knowledge of the Ethiopian market, mentality, language and customs, and the experience and the legal and accounting expertise of the firm. All these forms of expertise are brought together for the purpose of promoting transactions and business maneuvers taking place outside of the State of Israel, while relying on international corporations which are established in connection with these transactions, and which correspond with the economic and business interests of the clients, and combine them with the principal of transparency which is suited to the laws of the different countries involved in the transaction.

The Ethiopia – Israel desk specializes in providing legal and comprehensive commercial solutions for corporations and Israeli businessmen conducting their business in Ethiopia and Eritrea, or for parties aspiring to enter into the developing Ethiopian market in the fields of agriculture, tourism, local employment on Ethiopian soil, and additional fields. It should be noted that today most of the desk's activity is directed at Ethiopia, but besides promoting the Israeli "invasion" into Ethiopia we also intend to widen the existing business connections with the neighboring country of Eritrea. This country was once a part of Ethiopia, and several years ago was granted its' independence.

The desk accompanies Israelis wishing to penetrate into Ethiopia, and can provide a comprehensive answer for their different needs. This begins with the identification of the needs of the customer or product being introduced into the Ethiopian market, and concludes with providing the necessary services which include conducting business negotiations on behalf of the customer in the prevalent spoken languages of Amharic and Tigre, the forming of business connections with the relevant authorities, the drafting of agreements with the local authorities, giving these businesses an international structure, and additional services, which are all provided while taking great care to preserve the principals of transparency and proper conduct when dealing with the authorities all of the countries involved.

Over the past several years we have witnessed substantial changes taking place, and which are still in the process of taking place above and beneath the surface of this East African country. These changes have caused Ethiopia to become a country with a much higher economic – investment potential than has been the case in former years. These considerations include the relatively cheap workforce (2 Dollars for a day's work). Also, this workforce has advanced by leaps and bounds over the past several years, due to the greater percent of population now receiving a higher education. An additional consideration is the positive and meaningful incentives that are now offered by the local government in order to encourage export, and as a means to contend with the constant shortage of foreign currency in this country.

 Therefore, it is easy to understand why foreign investors are rushing to Ethiopia after having identified its economic potential. These investors have therefore arrived, and are constantly continuing to arrive from all over the globe, as part of a phenomenon that engenders significant economic growth, which is already very evident in the country. This fact has not escaped the attention of the Israeli investors, some of whom are Ethiopian born, and mostly who are not, and they are arriving in Ethiopia with the intention of promoting economic activity in different fields beginning from agriculture, through providing consulting services for the local authorities in a variety of different fields, and ending with rather significant investments in the country's infrastructure.

As has already been stated, the position of head of the Ethiopia – Israel desk was entrusted to Mr. Eliezer Yasu Gil, Esq., an attorney, age 40, married plus 4, and who over the past 12 years has served as senior partner and one of the founders of the Yasu Peri law firm. Mr. Eliezer Yasu Gil Esq. practiced his legal internship in the office of the former Minister of Justice, the late Haim Tzadok, Esq., was one of the first two members of the Ethiopian community in Israel to be licensed to practice law, and in fact has served as the path-finder showing the way to many others, and thanks to whom there are today over one hundred lawyers from among the Ethiopian community in Israel. Mr. Eliezer Yasu Gil Esq., is a graduate of the Haifa University Law School. He specializes in civil and commercial law, and for the past several years has been forming business contacts with different organization in Ethiopia. His firm employs two additional lawyers, who are also Ethiopian born, and among other things he acts as legal counsel for the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Israel, and he also is active in organizations acting on behalf of the Ethiopian immigrants in Israel, as well as for the strengthening of the Ethiopian community's involvement in the general Israeli society.

The Ethiopia desk's activities are accompanied by the additional international activities carried out by the firm, in addition to the firms local Israeli activities – and which include the "China Desk", which is administered by an attorney who speaks and writes in the Chinese language, and who has 30 years of commercial experience in China – Mr. Avi Levi, Esq., an additional office that is located in Romania – which specializes in providing solutions for Israelis and Israeli corporations who have financial interests in Romania, and also a branch of our office in Cyprus – which is operated from Cyprus itself, and which specializes in the field of founding corporations in Cyprus, as well as in additional fields f practice.