Ethiopia is looking to play an active part in the First China International Import Expo. That includes this year's leading African air company, Ethiopian Airlines, and agricultural products like coffee. The Eastern African country hopes the expo in Shanghai this November will help it attract buyers and investors. CGTN'S Girum Chala has been talking to one of the exhibitors and filed this report.

BETHELHEM TILAHUN MANAGING DIRECTOR, GARDEN OF COFFEE "Hi my name is Bethelhem Tilahun Alemu. I'm an Ethiopian entrepreneur. I'm the owner and managing director of Garden of coffee."

Bethelhem's Ethiopia-based, well reputed and successful coffee company, Garden of Coffee, will take part in November's highly awaited China International Import Expo.

BETHELHEM TILAHUN MANAGING DIRECTOR, GARDEN OF COFFEE "One of the things we want to do is we want to promote the Ethiopian different varietal coffee because most of the coffee companies here and outside, they focus on coffee blend so they don't have any specialty coffee. At Garden of Coffee, we focus on specialty coffee. It means that we don't blend coffee with different varietals, so to be able to promote that is going to be an amazing opportunity."

Garden of Coffee has already started reaping the rewards of engaging Chinese companies too. The managing director says doing business with China-based companies is a joy.

BETHELHEM TILAHUN MANAGING DIRECTOR, GARDEN OF COFFEE "We have signed a contract with one of the biggest Chinese companies to deliver our coffee and we have already started exporting last month which is huge for us as Garden of coffee. And then in two years time after we build our brand specifically in China for Chinese consumers, we going to be able to open a cafe like this."

Ethiopia's agriculture-led economy has started a journey to industrialization. But the country has a long way to go. Over the last six to eight years, Ethiopia's economy has only been able to generate a little more than 3 billion US dollars a year from export trade. The government and businesses here want to change that through the 1st China International Import Expo.

Bethelhem's Garden of coffee hopes to gain a lot out of the upcoming China International Import expo.

BETHELHEM TILAHUN MANAGING DIRECTOR, GARDEN OF COFFEE "I think it's a huge opportunity. I have never been taking part in fairs. I was in China but not for fair or things like that. This is going to be my first thing and then going with a strong partner with finished products outside Ethiopia will be amazing."

This beautiful city in China, Shanghai will be the home of many exporters from across the world coming in November 2018. Businesses will meet businesses; China is creating a space for a healthier and more balanced trading atmosphere for the world.

GIRUM CHALA ADDIS ABABA "In the next five years China is expecting to import products and services valued at more than 10 trillion US dollars. Experts say that provides a huge opportunity for enterprises like those here in Ethiopia and the continent of Africa to penetrate the large Chinese market easily. Girum Chala, CGTN, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia."