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