Republic of Guinea President Arrives In Addis Ababa for Three-Day Official Visit to Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, February 6, 2019 – The President of the Republic of Guinea, Alpha Conde, arrived in Addis Ababa today for a three-day official visit to Ethiopia.
Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, he was received by Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
During his visit, President Conde will meet with President Sahle-Work Zewde for talks on ways of further strengthening relations on bilateral and continental issues.
The Joint Ministerial Commission meeting between Ethiopia and Guinea was held yesterday.
Ethiopia and the Republic of Guinea have longstanding relations, one which dates back to 1960s.
During the presidency of Sekou Toure, the Republic of Guinea supported Ethiopia on its effort to reconcile the Monrovia and Casablanca groups in the course of establishing the OAU.
Ethio-Eritrea Peace Pact Is Having Positive Effect throughout Horn of Africa, Says Guterres
Addis Ababa, February 6, 2019 – U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said reconciliation between Ethiopia and Eritrea has illustrated bright spots on the African horizon.
Ethiopia and Eritrea signed a peace pact in July, ending two decades of animosity following a dispute over their border.
“The reconciliation is having a positive effect throughout the Horn of Africa,” Guterres said.
“We see negotiations between Djibouti and Eritrea, and we see reconciliation between Eritrea and Somalia that already took place,” he said.
“We see in many other areas movement in the right direction, and we are totally committed to work together – the African Union and the African sub-regional organizations – to support this wind of hope.”
He is also encouraged that the U.N. can hit the reset button in its relations with Somalia.
Somalia is making progress, particularly on economic reform, and the U.N. wants to encourage and support that, including through urging international financial institutions to offer their support.
The Secretary-General said further stated that there has been a “quantum leap” in relations between the world body and the AU and he hopes this can translate into progress on some of the continent’s biggest challenges.
“I am totally committed to the cooperation between the African Union and the United Nations,” Guterres told VOA in an interview at U.N. headquarters Tuesday.
“We are working more and more together in addressing a number of situations in Africa.”
Guterres also expressed optimism that efforts to end protracted crises in Libya and South Sudan could make progress this year.
“Our own objective is to make Africa overcome its difficulties, to make Africa a continent of hope, to make Africa a continent of the future, to make Africa a pillar of the world in which we live — not seen as a problem, but seen as an opportunity,” he said.
Guterres is expected to come to Addis Ababa for this weekend’s 32nd AU summit.
Permanent Secretary Ambassador Dewano Kedir Receives a Cuban Delegation
Permanent Secretary Ambassador Dewano Kedir received a delegation led by H.E. Mrs. Marcia Cobas Ruiz, Deputy Minister of Public Health of the Republic of Cuba yesterday (February 05).
On the occasion Permanent Secretary Ambassador Dewano appreciated the historical ties of friendship between Ethiopia and Cuba cemented during the liberation struggles of Africa and stressed the need to strengthen bilateral ties in business, trade and most importantly in areas including medicine, health, vaccine and pharmaceuticals.
Permanent Secretary Ambassador Dewano said, “We welcome your interest to collaborate in the area of productions of medicine as well as pharmaceuticals in Ethiopia. Health is the most important area to closely work together, adding, “Cuba has been sending medical doctors to Ethiopia for several years. We would like to encourage more engagements and assistance in this regard.”
Permanent Secretary Ambassador Dewano further expressed Ethiopia’s interest to explore more channels of cooperation with Cuba in science and technology, trade, and capacity building.
H.E. Mrs. Marcia Cobas Ruiz, Deputy Minister of Public Health of the Republic of Cuba on her part expressed the readiness of Cuba to support Ethiopia in health, medicine, vaccines as well as primary healthcare system. She said, “Thank You for welcoming my delegation. As a matter of fact Cuba is ready to support your healthcare system. We can work closely in the area of productions of medicine, similar projects to exchange experiences and capacity building.”
Ethiopia and Cuba established diplomatic relations on October 13, 1970.
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is a country comprising the island of Cuba as well as Isla de la Juventud and several archipelagos
Ethiopian FM Receives Norwegian Minister of International Development
Addis Ababa, February 4, 2019 – Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu held talks with Mr. Dag-Inge Ulstein, Norwegian Minister of International Development earlier today.
Minister Dr. Workneh appreciated Ethiopia, Norway partnership nexus in multiple areas of common interests ranging from peace and security, climate change and migration, education and increasingly in sustainable development.
Minister Dr. Workneh said, “Welcome to Ethiopia at a time of tremendous reform program we’re undertaking in all spheres of national development, in fact for the first time in the political history of Ethiopia.
“We’ve created a viable platform of consensus with all diasporas, former armed groups, and many opposition parties, despite the challenges there is a total shift in the political dynamism of Ethiopia.
He added, “The path may not be smooth but we’re on the right track achieving continental model of peace and development.”
Minister Dr. Workneh expressed gratitude for the long history Ethiopia and Norway enjoyed in strengthening the wider bilateral ties between the two countries especially Norway’s interest to support Ethiopia in youth job creation, education and health.
Minister Dr. Workneh said, “The role of the Norwegian Government for security and stability of the Horn is to be appreciated, it is pertinent to the success of our development endeavors.”
Mr. Dag-Inge Ulstein commended Ethiopia for its role towards ensuring peace and stability in the region and its diplomatic moves to craft Ethio-Eritrea historical peace deal that has ushered as a wind of hope for peace in the Horn region.
He said, “Norway stands together with Ethiopia. We support your reform agenda and we want to work closely in the spheres of job creation for the youth, education, health and migration. I hope that the reform will succeed for sustainable economic development in Ethiopia.”
Mr. Dag-Inge Ulstein appreciated the significance of normalization of relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea to the stability of the Horn of Africa, which he says, is the bedrock for Horn of Africa towards better prospect for collective peace and prosperity.
Diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Norway started in 1947.
EU’s foreign policy chief to visit Ethiopia this month
Addis Ababa, February 1, 2019 – Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the EU Commission will pay an official visit to Ethiopia this month.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Nebiat Getachew, told journalists today that Mogherini will start her visit on February 9, 2019.
During the visit, she will meet with Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed to discuss on ways of cementing bilateral ties between Ethiopia and the Union and revamping EU- Ethiopia strategic engagement dialogues, he said.
The Spokesperson further said that preparations are underway to successfully host the 32nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Africa Union (AU), scheduled to take place 10th-11th February, at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
According to him, the Commemorative Statue of Emperor Haile Selassie will be unveiled at the AU Headquarters to reflect and showcase the history of African liberation, integration, and the Emperor’s unquestionable role in the evolution of Africa’s development agenda.
Ethiopian to begin free transit tour to global passengers tomorrow
Addis Ababa, January 31, 2019 – Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopian), the largest Aviation Group in Africa and SKYTRAX Certified Four Star Global Airline, said that it will begin free transit tour to global passengers as of Friday, February 1, 2019.
The new complimentary city tour package organized by ET Holidays, the tour operator wing of Ethiopian, takes transiting passengers with 6 to 8 hours’ time in Addis Ababa, on a journey through the National Museum.
The journey is accompanied with a taste of Ethiopian coffee and souvenir shopping at affordable prices and makes them experience the unique flavors of the political capital of Africa during their brief stay.
Zewdu Hailemariam, head of ET Holidays division told Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC) today that the new tour package will help promote the airlines and encourage passengers to come again as tourists.
Group CEO of Ethiopian, Tewolde GebreMariam, said “as we continue to discover and deliver the best for our customers, we are pleased to come up with complimentary offerings to our global transiting passengers and make them savor every moment and feel the real taste of Addis Ababa during their brief stay.”
“While promoting Ethiopia, Land of Origins, and it’s beautiful capital Addis Ababa alike, as tourist destinations, we will keep promoting initiatives tailored to provide our ever growing customer with a unique and unforgettable travel experience.”
Ethiopian inaugurated its new state-of-the-art passenger terminal at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport built at a cost of $363 million and and new ultra-modern five-star Skylight Hotel constructed with $65 million.
The passenger terminal will help to serve the huge increase in volume through and into the airport. The airport will now be able to accommodate 22 million passengers annually.
Ethiopia has overtaken Dubai as a conduit for long-haul passengers to Africa, highlighting the success of the state airline’s expansion drive and the reforms of its new Prime Minister.
According to travel consultancy ForwardKeys, Addis Ababa airport had increased the number of international transfer passengers to sub-Saharan Africa for five years in a row, and in 2018 had surpassed Dubai, one of the world’s busiest airports, as the transfer hub for long-haul travel to the region.
ForwardKeys found the number of long-haul transfers to sub-Saharan Africa via Addis Ababa jumped by 85 percent from 2013 to 2017. Transfers via Dubai over the same period rose by 31 percent.
ForwardKeys also attributed the recent jump in bookings via Addis Ababa in part to a positive international response to the broad reforms introduced by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in April and has upended politics in the Horn of Africa country of around 105 million people.
And the rise of travel via Addis Ababa looks set to continue. International bookings via Ethiopia are up 40 percent year-on-year for November to January 2019, ahead of all other destinations in Africa, ForwardKeys said.
German President visits rock-hewn churches at Lalibela
Addis Ababa, January 29, 2019 – German President Frank -Walter Steinmeier today arrived in Lalibela town, Amhara regional state, to visit the rock-hewn churches at Lalibela, which are a UNESCO world heritage site.
Early this morning the President, who arrived in Addis Ababa last Sunday for a four day official visit to Ethiopia, also visited a vocational training institute and the German Embassy in Addis Ababa.
The German President met with President Sahle-Work Zewde and Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed yesterday to discuss bilateral issues as well as witnessed a MoU signing ceremony between the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) and Volkswagen that enables the latter to set up an automotive industry in Ethiopia.
The last day of the visit will be devoted to the African Union. The President Steinmeier will meet with, among others, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Dr. Workneh addresses the 15th Ethio-Djibouti Joint Ministerial Commission Meeting
Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu addressed the 15th Ethio-Djibouti Joint Ministerial Commission meeting today (January 30) held in Djibouti. Expressing his heartfelt gratitude for the warm welcome accorded to him and his delegation, Dr. Workneh recalled that the people of Ethiopia and Djibouti are one people living in two countries intertwined with culture, religion, language, tradition and history.
The Minister noted the 15th JMC meeting is yet another expression of our commitment to nurture the all rounded cooperation existing between the two countries. Recalling Premier Abiy’s first overseas visit to Djibouti, Dr. Workneh expressed the greater importance his Government attaches to its ties with Djibouti.
The Foreign Minister noted the two countries have a very good track record of working on the issues of combating common security challenges such as terrorism and extremism under the umbrella of IGAD. Dr. Workneh called for the need to scale up collective endeavors to consolidate the emerging peace and stability in the region.
Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), the clean and cheap electricity supply of electricity to Djibouti, Djibouti’s modern port facility, the plan to linkup through pipelines for transportation of natural gas from Ethiopia are among the few symbolic cooperation arrays between the two countries. Minister Workneh praising the Government of Djibouti for taking steps to see improved relations with Eritrea, noted that the President has been a good catalyst in further spurring a wind of hope within the region.
Reminding the number of cooperative agreements inked by the two countries, Dr. Workneh urged the need to expedite the implementation of these agreements to further heighten the ties to a high gear.
Foreign Minister of Djibouti Mahmoud Ali Youssuf on his part noted the ties between the two countries have always been in the spirit of the unique brotherly bond of their people. The Foreign Minister added the Ethio-Djibouti relation is a showcase of regional integration in materializing the Agenda 2063 of the African Union.
Commending the bold and incisive decisions of Prime Minister Abiy towards ensuring peace and harmonization in the region, the Minister expressed his Government’s deep-seated commitment to stand alongside its Ethiopian counterpart to spearhead the paradigm shift in the region.
As an essential prelude to the JMC, the Joint Technical Committee of the two countries were deliberating on matters of technicalities over the last 3 days. This Joint Ministerial Commission meeting is expected to prompt enhanced platforms to scale up the ties between the two countries in multifaceted arrays including peace and security, socio-political, economic as well as people to people relations.
German President visits rock-hewn churches at Lalibela
Addis Ababa, January 29, 2019 – German President Frank -Walter Steinmeier today arrived in Lalibela town, Amhara regional state, to visit the rock-hewn churches at Lalibela, which are a UNESCO world heritage site.
Early this morning the President, who arrived in Addis Ababa last Sunday for a four day official visit to Ethiopia, also visited a vocational training institute and the German Embassy in Addis Ababa.
The German President met with President Sahle-Work Zewde and Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed yesterday to discuss bilateral issues as well as witnessed a MoU signing ceremony between the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) and Volkswagen that enables the latter to set up an automotive industry in Ethiopia.
The last day of the visit will be devoted to the African Union. The President Steinmeier will meet with, among others, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Djibouti Joint Ministerial Commission meeting
January 29, 2019 – An Ethiopian delegation led by Dr Workneh Gebeyehu has travelled to Djibouti to attend the 15th Ethio-Djibouti Joint Ministerial Commission meeting.
Ethiopia and Djibouti have had comprehensive and multi-faceted economic and political relations over the previous decades. Djibouti is the main import-export port outlet for Ethiopia.
The two countries are already linked with vital infrastructural facilities and they have been conducting period monitoring and evaluation on the progress of the multiple projects that are being conducted between the two neighborly countries.
The joint meeting provides a forum on which they can evaluate the progress in the relation between the two countries and also resolve possible upcoming issues.
The meeting will deliberate on topical issues of transport, port utilization, education, health, customs and trade.
Volkswagen to Launch its First Car Plant in Ethiopia
German carmaker, Volkswagen plans to open a car assembly plant in Ethiopia as it expands its presence in Africa.
Following the signing of the MOU by Investment Commissioner Mr. Abeba Abebayehu and CEO of VW Mr. Thomas Shafer said, “Ethiopia is an attractive and competitive location for production and supporting logistics.”
Mr. Thomas Shaffer also said, “The signing of the MoU showcases the seriousness with which Volkswagen takes its commitment to Africa with the planned local assembly we are confident to be able to expand our market position.”
Investment Commissioner Mr. Abeba Abebayehu said that,” We welcome the decision of Volkswagen to resume manufacturing and assembly of cars in Ethiopia, a step that reflects the improvement of the investment environment and the performance of business in Ethiopia, in the light of the implementation of the comprehensive economic reform program as well as the openness of Ethiopia to cooperate with the German company within the framework of its policies to develop the automotive industry in its various categories.”
Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed received the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank Walter Steinmer and his delegation yesterday, who are currently visiting Ethiopia. During the occasion, the Premier immensely appreciated the long- term and consistent technical and vocational support of the government of Germany to Ethiopia.
In addition to Rwanda, the Volkswagen brand is also active at three other locations in the Sub-Sahara region: the company has been manufacturing vehicles in South Africa since 1951. Vehicle assembly began in Nigeria in 2015 and in Kenya in December 2016.
By 1955, Volkswagen was in more than 150 countries worldwide.
Premier appreciates German’s consistent technical, vocational support to Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, January 28, 2019 – Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed today received the President of Germany, Frank Walter Steinmer and his delegation, who are currently visiting Ethiopia.
The Prime Minister appreciated the German Government’s long-term and consistent technical and vocational support to Ethiopia, according to Office of the Prime Minister
He shared the three pillars of the current reforms as being grounded in individuals, ideas and institutions.
President Steinmer on his part acknowledged the elevation of Ethiopia-German relations to reforms cooperation and confirmed the strengthening of these relations.
Early this morning, the German President Frank also held bilateral talks with President Sahle-Work Zewde.
President Steinmer will attend a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Volkswagen AG and the Ethiopian Investment Commission a roundtable discussion with the economic adviser to the PM and members of the German and Ethiopian business communities later today.
The President will be meeting with civil society representatives and prominent Ethiopians advocating political change, from whom he will be hearing about current developments in the country, which is undergoing reforms and a social opening.
He will also visit a vocational training institute and meet with members of the business community. In the north of the country, he will visit the rock-hewn churches at Lalibela, which are a UNESCO world heritage site.
The last day of the visit will be devoted to the African Union. The President Steinmeier will meet with, among others, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat.
