ADDIS ABABA- The business partnership between Ethiopia and Kuwait has been showing tangible progress from time to time, Ethiopian Ambassador to Kuwait Abdulfetah Abdulahi said.
Among Gulf countries, Kuwait is the third largest trading partner of Ethiopia next to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Ambassador Abdulfetah told The Ethiopian Herald that agreements reached between the two countries and efforts of the joint ministerial committee for the implementation and success of these agreements are the major reasons for the enhancement of the ties.
The Ambassador stated that the Ethio- Kuwait Joint Ministerial Committee has been playing a crucial role in strengthening the economic cooperation between the two countries.
He further pointed
out that Kuwait has been extending support for Ethiopia through the Kuwait Fund
for Arab Economic Development especially for the road sector development.
“Concerning development projects, the Kuwait Fund has given due consideration to the objectivity and necessity of development projects and its support has a constructive role in supporting Ethiopia’s efforts to provision of social services in both rural and urban areas.”
According to the Ambassador, the support through the Kuwait Fund has been mainly extended to finance major road projects of the Ethiopian government.
The construction of Wukro – Zalambesa, Nekemte – Bedele, and Dessie – Kutaber – Tenata road projects in Tigray, Oromia and Amhara states respectively are among the projects financed by Kuwait Fund.
Ethiopia exports live animals and agricultural products to Kuwait, while it imports the bulk of its consumption of diesel, airplane kerosene and benzene from the latter. Furthermore, Ethiopia is among the recipients of Kuwait’s one billion USD soft loan the country’s Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah initiated to support Africa’s development projects.
It is to be recalled Ethiopia and Kuwait began diplomatic relations in 1997.
The Ethiopian Herald October 1, 2019
BY BILAL DERSO
