– Ethiopia, Kuwait vow to strengthen ties
ADDIS ABABA – Foreign Minister Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu conferred with UK Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to AU and UN ECA, Ambassador Alastair David McPhail. Workneh commended UK’s strong relations with Ethiopia highlighting the all-rounded political and economic cooperation between the two countries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) stated. Workneh briefed the UK ambassador on reforms in Ethiopia including press freedom, opening up the political space, democratization as well as advancing the respect of human rights. Ambassador McPhail expressed his country’s continued commitment to support Ethiopia in its efforts of ensuring economic development and promoting regional peace, stability and economic integration in the Horn of Africa. According to MoFA, Dr. Workneh stressed the need to further bolster trade and investment ties between Ethiopia and UK. Workneh also discussed with Yaprak Alp, Turkish Ambassador to Ethiopia and discussed on ways of enhancing bilateral relations between the two countries.
Meanwhile, State Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hirut Zemene welcomed Hamad Al- Meshan, Acting Assistance Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait at her offices yesterday, in which, both sides agreed to sharpen ties on aspects of mutual interests in bilateral and regional issues.
Highlighting collaboration on a myriad of bilateral and regional issues of common interest, State Minister Hirut said, “Ethiopia and the State of Kuwait enjoy long-standing and historical relationship, which has served as a springboard for the relations to improve at various levels.”
Hirut appreciated Kuwait’s assistance to Ethiopia through the Kuwait Fund for airport expansion, electric power projects as well as roads construction and stressed the importance of further cementing bilateral ties via trade and investment.
She said, “Ethiopia has huge investment opportunities especially in agriculture, agro-processing and light-medium manufacturing sectors for potential Kuwaiti investors”.
Hamad Al- Meshan expressed Kuwait’s readiness to consolidate cooperation with Ethiopia, further bolstering ties in trade and investment.
He also noted that the Ethio-Kuwait Joint Ministerial Commission meeting has been playing a leading role in outlining the cooperation frameworks. As per the agreement, the upcoming Joint Ministerial Commission meeting will convene in Addis Ababa in June 2019.
He also stated that preparations are well underway to sign the bilateral labor agreement.
Ethiopia, Kuwait cordially started diplomatic relations in 1967, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ethiopian Herald February 21/2019
BY STAFF REPORTER
