The symposium provided a unique and valuable opportunity for the professionals to learn from each other and exchange ideas of significance importance. In his opening remarks, Erimas Tilahun, President of EPPAD said that the association aims at bringing pharmaceutical and other related professionals together and serve as a platform for policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, promotion of business and access to safe and quality medicines in the US and Ethiopia. Biniyam Eshetu, Head of the Diaspora Affairs Division at the Embassy, also spoke at the occasion. In his remarks, the Division’s Head expressed his gratitude to the founding members for bringing the professionals together so that they could support the ongoing all-inclusive reforms in their areas of expertise. He also underscored the fact that efforts are being undertaken to develop local manufacturing capacity in Ethiopia in order to increase access to locally manufactured, quality-assured medicines.