ADDIS ABABA- Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu held talks yesterday with his Kenyan and South Sudanese counterparts on ways to consolidate relations in trade and investment fields and strengthen partnership in regional peace and stability.
Dr. Workneh held discussion with Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Minister Monica Juma on the sidelines of the 34th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the AU here in Addis Ababa. After the discussion, Kenya’s Foreign Minister told reporters that her country is desirous to deepen the age-old people-to-people and diplomatic relations with Ethiopia in the trade and investment frontiers.
The minister also stated that Kenya shares Ethiopia’s stance in global issues and have the desire to enhance cooperation in regional peace and economic integration. According to Juma, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta’s forthcoming state visit to Ethiopia is one of the issues she exchanged views with Ethiopian FM. Dr. Workneh said on his part that the discussion aimed to scale up the already in a good position relation with Kenya and consensus was reached to work for the furtherance of the strategic partnership.
Bolstering the economic and trade cooperation and attracting new investors to the respective countries were part of the dialogue. He noted that the exchange was also aimed at reviewing activities Ethiopia and Kenya have made to ensure regional peace and stability under the umbrella of Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and ways to consolidate the regional block.
Stating the two countries interconnectivity via roads and electricity, Dr. Workneh indicated that extensive road upgrading activities are underway in both sides to hasten flow of goods and increase the trade volume. Furthermore, Ethiopia and Kenya scheduled to inaugurate single border post to enhance the trade flow and have a plan to merge immigration and customs services.
Similarly, Dr. Workneh conferred with South Sudanese Foreign Affairs Minister Nhial Deng Nhial. Nhial told the reporters that South Sudanese warring factions signing of peace agreement in Addis Ababa opens a new door of cooperation between the two countries.
Applauding the instrumental role Ethiopia has played in South Sudanese peace process, the minister said that Ethiopia’s rapprochement with Eritrea also gives positive climate to the Horn of Africa. “This development helps us to tend our attention to strengthen bilateral relations with Ethiopia and we would reactivate the joint ministerial committee to explore new areas of cooperation and cement the existing ones.”
“Ethio-South Sudanese bilateral relation was characterized by our efforts to mediate the warring factions,” Dr. Workneh said, adding that the improvement in South Sudanese peace has brought about a paradigm shift in the two countries ties. He said that both Ethiopia and South Sudan are looking to capitalize on their huge human and natural potentials to promote all-rounded cooperation and consensus was reached to transform these potentials into strong trade and economic engagement.
Herald February 9/2019
BY BILAL DERSO
