Addis Ababa.Feb. 21(ENA)--French entrepreneurs have expressed their desire to invest in Ethiopia. The 22nd Franco- African Summit concluded its deliberations on Friday.

The French investors made the remarks in Paris on Friday after receiving briefings by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi about the condicieve investment atmosphere and the untapped natural resources available in Ethiopia.

The French investors told Prime Minister Meles that they were keenly interested to invest in Ethiopia.

On the occasion, Michel Frank, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of France, recalled that trade ties with Ethiopia dates back to more than a century ago when a French contractor had undertaken the construction of the Ethio-Djibouti railway.

He said, the volume of trade between the two countries ever since was not as big as expected, although French companies like TOTAL injected their capitals into Ethiopia.

He expressed the willingness of French entrepreneurs to increase the volume of trade into Ethiopia and further bolster trade and investment relations between the two countries.

Ethiopia is a country endowed with huge natural resources and proud with ancient history, he remarked.

Prime Minister Meles on his part pledged his government's support in every way possible to French entrepreneurs who come to Ethiopia with investment proposals.

Meanwhile, the Franco-African Summit which representatives and leaders of 52 African countries had taken part concluded on Friday. The official theme of the summit stressed the importance of the two sides coming together in a "new partnership".

The two-day summit resolved for partnership in the global efforts to bring about peace and security as well as to fight terrorism. France and Africa also forged a partnership in socio-economic cooperation, including those related to poverty reduction and the fight against diseases.

France pledged to present the stand of Africa at venues of the European Union, the UN Security Council as well as in the G8 Summit to be held in June in Paris.

Ethiopia forwarded strong suggestions related to existing realities in Africa in the water, agriculture and health sectors and the kinds of support needed to improve the sectors.

Prime Minister Meles is expected to head to London on a three-day official visit to the United Kingdom.

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