Kolkata, Aug 3 - Ethiopia is keen to form joint ventures with companies in West Bengal in sectors like jute and leather, a senior Ethiopian diplomat said here Monday.

'We have spoken to the chief minister (Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee) today morning about future cooperation with West Bengal,' said Gennet Zewide, Ethiopian ambassador to India.

'We are looking into joint ventures. Thee could be private to private or state to state,' she told reporters on the sidelines of a press conference by Emami Biotech to announce the company's plantation project in Ethiopia.

Indian investments in Ethiopia have jumped to $4.1 billion in the last three years, up from $350 million before that, Zewide said.

Referring to Ethiopia's coal and iron ore reserves, she said her country was keen on getting partners for mining ventures. 'We have asked Emami if they can get into coal mining.