Polsko-abisyńskie stosunki handlowe w latach 1918-1939

The first trading contacts between Poland and Abyssinia took place in the twenties of the 20th century, although more developed collaboration began during the Great Depression, when Poland’s previous trade partners introduced a number of trade quotas and securities limitations. This is when the great and populated Abyssinia came to Poland’s attention. Already in 1933 a representative of The State Export Institute, Bohdan Wojewódzki, went to Addis Abeba, where he noticed a vast number of possibilities for Polish export. Local society was also very interested in establishing some closer cooperation with Poland. The country wanted to discard the impact of the great powers of the Western Europe and to protect itself from the possibility of Italian aggression. On that account, Abyssinia was striving towards collaboration with non-colonial countries. An agreement of friendship, settlement and trade between Poland and Abyssinia was signed in December 1934. It contained a clause of the highest privilege. The possibilities of cooperation were terminated by Italian aggression.