. Prime Minister Abiy meets EU Presidents
The Ethiopian reformist Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed who started his job before nine months by enhancing freedom of the press, releasing political prisoners, empowering women and the next generation of private-public partnerships.
he faced the 2019 World Economic Forum (WEF) making these the goals of his three pillars of development: vibrant democracy, economic vitality, and Regional Integration with openness to the world. In his visit to Europe, the Premier and his delegations made enormous sideline discussions with the world leaders and great businessmen those showcased the untapped investment opportunities and policy priorities in Ethiopia.
Such discussions have critical inputs to the multidimensional developments, especially the diplomatic and economic aspects challenges the nation has been through. As the Premier said on the WEF, Ethiopia is one of the fastest growing economies in the globe, consistently averaging growth of over 9 percent. Poverty has been halved and education enrolment has interestingly increased though the challenges remain formidable. It is to sustain that level of growth, especially to find jobs for a rapidly expanding young population.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met and discussed with prominent global businessmen Bill Gates, Jack Ma, George Soros and Mohammed Al Shaibani on the sidelines of the WEF. Dr. Abiy expressed his gratitude to Gates for the works of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in health, agriculture and state capacity building agreeing with Bill Gates to enhance cooperation in agricultural irrigation and technology sector, according to Office of the Prime Minister.
Similarly, the Premier met with Jack Ma, Chairman of the Alibaba Group and had productive discussion about the future of disruptive technologies on markets and society on which Jack Ma agreed to consider potential investment in technology city in Ethiopia that will impact the daily lives of the people in the region. Head of the Open Society Foundations, George Soros is among the influential leaders whom the Premier met in Davos, Switzerland.
He is a renowned backer of progressive and liberal political causes, to which he dispenses donations through his agency, the Open Society Foundations. In their discussions, both of them exchanged their outlooks on electoral integrity, challenges of democratization, access to justice, economic inclusion, institutional and regulatory reforms. And Soros supports Ethiopia’s ongoing reforms in enabling civil societies and enacting a progressive refugee law, according to Office of the Prime Minister.
Likewise, Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed also convened an Investment Strategy Dialogue with selected CEOs of multinational corporations to identify opportunities for private investment. He met with Mohammed Al Shaibani, CEO of Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD). ICD is keen to invest in hospitality and agro-business industry in Ethiopia, according to the Office of the Prime Minister. It seeks to manage the Dubai’s portfolio in commercial companies and investments across strategic sectors including financial services, transportation, energy and industrial, real estate and leisure, retail, and other holdings.
The Corporation has been investing in Ethiopia and is processing further investments in Billions. Moreover, the visit has also benefited Ethiopia as the Government of Italy expressed its interest to help Ethiopia and Eritrea link via railway network which is one of the essential assistance to the Premier’s regional economic integration vision. In the Premier’s counterpart discussion with Giuseppe Conte, in Rome, Italian government expressed interest to cover the feasibility study cost for the railway project that links Addis Ababa with the port city of Massawa, Eritrea for which Dr. Abiy expressed his gratitude.
“The comprehensive discussion which I had with Giuseppe Conte in particular was important to take the bilateral relationship between Ethiopia and Italy to the next level,” Dr Abiy said adding, “We are excited to accept with great honor Italy’s Plan to extend support on Ethiopia’s plan to link Addis Ababa with Massawa via railway.” Furthermore, Prime Minister Conte has also expressed his government’s plan to extend support to the soldiers returning from the Ethio-Eritrea border following the peace agreement between the two neighboring countries calling for enhanced cooperation between Ethiopia and Italy in the areas of development, peace, and tourism.
It is also essential to note that the Ethio-Italian relation has gone further in business that most of Ethiopia’s hydropower dams including Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) under construction, are built by the Italian Company, Salini Impregilo. The other great conversation that Prime Minister Dr. Abiy had is the one with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican Apostolic Palace on which the Pope lauded their common interest agreement signed between Ethiopia and Eritrea to end border standoff as it was the core of the discussion.
Premier Abiy also discussed with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of the Holy State of Vatican. Even more, Premier Abiy Ahmed visited St. Stephen of the Abyssinians Church located in Vatican City where he was received by Cardinal Berhane Yesus, who recognized the Premier for the peace bridge that has been built between Ethiopia and Eritrea on his initiation. Similarly, Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu has met with his Swiss Counterpart, Ignazio Cassis and discussed how to upscale ties including bilateral and multilateral issues of common interest, According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Swiss counterpart was briefed on the sweeping political and economic reforms underway in Ethiopia under the new leadership which is vital to ensure socio-economic development; the widening of the political space; reign of the rule of law, ensuring media freedom and respect of human rights. In such score, Dr. Workneh noted that a number of important legislation have been in the process of revision and will soon be completed stressing further the importance of enhancing the bilateral economic cooperation, particularly on areas of trade and investment.
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis on his part has pledged to encourage the Swiss private sector to invest in Ethiopia with the view to strengthening the bilateral economic cooperation. Both of them also underscored the need to finalize the signing of the agreement on avoidance of double taxation, noting that doing so, would further strengthen the bilateral economic ties. They also approved to continue the bilateral political consultations they have been conducting at the level of the State Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the two nations.
Therefore, the Premier’s visit to Europe and participation on the WEF has endowed the nation with the enhancement of diplomatic ties and better investment interests those would prove the challenges the nation is facing in the general development sphere. Meanwhile,Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed met with European Union Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at Brussels where both parties witnessed the signing of three financing agreements.
The agreements between the Ethiopia and the EU worth 130 million Euros will support sustainable energy initiatives, establishment of agro-industry parks and job creation, disclosed Office of the Prime Minister Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his delegation held a lunch meeting with the EU Commission Vice President and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini.
PM Abiy appreciated the support of the European Commission and shared the new outlook of Medemer (synergy) as the foundational philosophy for reforms in the country and Horn region integration. He also shared the priority areas for the country and effective ways of supporting the reforms, particularly in ensuring democratic elections and enabling a new democratic culture.
Mogherini recalled the long standing relationship between Ethiopia and the European Commission and the future collaboration to come. She affirmed that Europe has noticed the changes the government has brought to the country and Horn region while vowing the Union’s full technical and financial support. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed began his Belgium visit in a meeting with European Council President Donald Tusk. The discussions focused on issues of mutual cooperation interests to both parties.
The Ethiopian Herald, January 25/2019
BY DIRRIBA TESHOME
