Asfaw, the East Africa Director at the Corporate Council on Africa, is a creative business development professional with over 18 years of senior-level business development experience in the U.S. and East Africa.   Asfaw provides investment promotions and facilitations events, government relations, market-entry, and business development services for clients in Ethiopia and East Africa.  He has done extensive work on the Ethiopian industry park, energy, consumer goods, and telecommunication infrastructure sector. In addition, he has designed and implemented successful market entry projects for his clients.

Prior to moving to Ethiopia in 2009, Asfaw was a Director of Member Services at the Corporate Council on Africa in Washington D.C. From 2005 - 2009 Asfaw was a member of the senior management team of the U.S. - Africa Business Summit. Among other responsibilities, Asfaw co-created Corporate Social Responsibility in Africa initiative to identify and forge a relationship with multinational companies for Public-Private Partnership in Africa.

Asfaw is highly skilled in international strategic business planning with demonstrated success in business development with specialized insights into the business, cultural, economic, and political conditions necessary to achieve success in East Africa. Asfaw’s success derives from its deep understanding of how to get things done in Ethiopia.  

Asfaw has significant U.S. - Africa trade policy and investment promotion experience. Over the years, Asfaw has organized senior-level investment events, including President Barack Obama’s 2013 Presidential address to African CEO’s in Tanzania.

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