ADDIS ABABA – The administration of Addis Ababa City is continuing its efforts to strengthen sisterly relationships with cities around the world, which could add value and bring opportunity to explore innovative strategies and help to grow the city’s socio-economic development in infrastructure, transportation, and education among others.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, City’s Public and International Affairs Director Abraham Asrat said that Addis Ababa has made sister city agreement with over 21 cities across the world to bring new, strategic and scientific experiences that will assist to develop its economy as well as modernize its service delivery systems.
Of which, we had signed agreement with Washington city six years ago in 2013 in few sectors such as dry waste disposal and artistic management, now we have renewed the agreement that has covered vast areas of cooperation on infrastructure, education, ICT, security, and transport and traffic modernization, in addition to the previous conventions, he stated.
According to Abraham, Leipzig city of Germany is cooperating in providing training in fire extinguishing activities for more than 40 experts from Addis Ababa city. It has also renewed agreements with Leon city of Spain particularly in modernizing transport, and green area development, he said adding, there are also Asian cities, for example Chuncheon city in South Korea, which provides educationaltrainings and scholarships for our students, he added.
As to Abraham, the agreements made between these sisterly cities aimed at sharing paramount and practical experiences in different fields, which will never stop at Leon or Washington, rather other cities can also contribute to the development of the city in several sectors.
“Last year, the delegates from Addis Ababa had gone to Washington and brought best experiences in dry waste disposal and river side development activities. Washington has pledged to provide scholastic training opportunities for higher officials and citizens of Addis Ababa city.”
It also vowed “to send Washingtonian professors to Addis so as to share their vast expertise and provide hands-on trainings in multiple sectors. The two cities also agreed on sharing modern technological skills in traffic management which requires the modern-day transportation facilities and services for the society.”
Abraham also said; since green development is the other focus area in relation to Sheger project and other riverside developments, Washingtonians can share us best experience and skills associated with how to create awareness on the society, ways of putting methods into practice, and what will be its outcome.
On his twiter page, Mayor of Addis Ababa Takele Uma Banti said; “we renewed our Sister City agreement with Washington DC to create lasting partnerships and cooperation on economic development, public health, culture, tourism and education. We are the capitals to two great nations and there is so much we can learn from each other.”
Replying to Takele, Mayor of Washington DC Muriel Bowser said; “The day is important not only for the renewed partnership between our two cities but also for the tens of thousands of Ethiopians in the Washington metro area who serve as a vital link between the two city governments, our citizens, businesses, cultural and academic communities.”
Above all, the agreements made with several sister cities intended to create conducive living environment for our society through modernizing the service delivery system and developing major infrastructure works, and transforming other development endeavors, Abraham noted.
November 16/2019
BY ZELALEM GIRMA
