BY YOHANES JEMANEH
Countries like Italy are among the European nations that are consolidating historic diplomatic relations with Ethiopia. This relationship is unwavering even during these trying times of the nation. For that reason, the Italian government has recently renewed its commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Ethiopia and extended peace and development support.
Accordingly, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di Maio discussed with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen on 13June a wide range of issues, including regional and bilateral matters of common concern, further pledging to cement the already strong ties between the two countries.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister briefed Di Maio on the peace building measures that the Government of Ethiopia has been undertaking so far.In relation to this, Demeke mentioned efforts to create unimpeded access to humanitarian aid partners to operate freely in conflict-affected regions.Ethiopia has been undertaking measures to ensure accountability for human rights abuses during the conflict in the northern part of the country.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also affirmed Ethiopia’s commitment to cooperate with and support the peace initiatives of the African Union Commission Chairperson High Representative for the Horn of Africa Olusegun Obasanjo.
For the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Luigi Di MaioDi Maio, Ethiopia is an anchor state in the region, and peace and stability in the country is key for peace and stability in the horn of Africa.The Italian Foreign Minister also appreciated the Government of Ethiopia for the encouraging measures it has been taking to ensure lasting peace in the country.
In a press conference that followed the meeting of the two ministers, Demeke expressed his gratitude to the government of Italy for its balanced position and unwavering support extended to Ethiopia during challenging times.Demeke and Di Maio also reaffirmed their commitment to scale up the multifaceted relations between the two countries.
During his stay in Addis Ababa, Di Maio also met and discussed with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD). “In Addis Ababa, I met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali. We discussed ways to strengthen the historical relations between Italy and Ethiopia and continue to work for the stability of the African continent. We are also at the forefront of unblocking wheat exports, and the next few weeks will be crucial. Our commitment is to guarantee the food security of the most exposed countries, starting with Africa,” he tweeted after talking with Abiy on diplomatic matters.
Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation also tweeted that the strong friendship between Ethiopia and Italy is at the core of Italy’s support for a long-term solution to the current crisis, the development and common initiatives, and the return of Ethiopia as a guarantor of stability in the horn of Africa.
Italy is not only the political ally of Ethiopia. The two nations also have close economic and trade relations. And various Italian companies have been investing in Ethiopia. In addition, some companies like Salini Impregilo are enhancing Ethiopia’s mega-development projects including the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, a project the government is working on speeding up its construction considering the dam as a gear changer in the country’s development programs as it is designed for various national benefits mainly as a source of energy for millions of households and several industries.
The visit of Di Maio, thus renewed economic collaboration between Ethiopia and Italy as the countries agreed on a Highly Concessional Loan Agreement for boosting economic cooperation mainly on agricultural advancement. The concessional loan agreement signed on 13 June 2022 by Finance Minister Ahmed Shide, and Di Maioamounts to 22 million euros.
The allocated finance will be used to support the development of the Bulbula, Bure, Yirgalem, and Ba’eker Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks (IAIPs) and the proximity of Rural Transformation Centers (RTCs), to create jobs in the rural areas of the country, increase farmers’ incomes, generate export revenues, substitute imports of agro-processed goods and contribute to economic growth and structural transformation.
The main activities to be performed by the intervention include: strengthening the capacities of the National and Regional Industrial Park Development Corporations, strengthening the organizational and the business capacities of farmers’ organizations and private investors, and creating linkages between farmers’ organizations and agro-processors through innovative contractual arrangements such as contract farming, supply contracts and so on. The intervention also focused on constructing and equipping centers of excellence in the IAIPs and facilitating credit for equipment for Small and Medium Manufacturing Enterprises in the selected value chains.
According to the Ministry of Finance,the intervention will improve the involvement of private sectors in the Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks and Rural Transformation Centers, and their competitiveness in the internal and international market, which is in line with the Home-Grown Economic Reform agenda and the 10 years of the development plan of Ethiopia. Therefore, Italy’s financial support is believed to be an important input to hastening the construction of the agro-industry park thereby improving the income of the people.
Italy is one of the top European countries to import Ethiopian agricultural products mainly coffee, the cash crop Ethiopia is famous for. This year, Ethiopian coffee availed a record high of 1.2 billion Birr for the first time in which Italy was one of the top ten countries to import the coffee product. According to Ethiopian Coffee Exporters Association, Ethiopia is going to take part in the World of Coffee product show that will be held in June 23-25 in Milan. The country perceives the show as a significant platform to promote the significance of its green Gold to the rest of the world. Accordingly, over 56 Ethiopia-based institutions and individuals will participate in the event.
In recent years, Ethiopia is advancing in agricultural productivity following the expansion of irrigation farming. The increment of such productivity sufficiently feeds the local market and the Agro-Industrial Parks. The increasing processed product in return enables the nation to secure better foreign currency. Thus, boosting cooperation with Italy and other countries who show keenness to bolster diplomacy ought to be consolidated as it capacitates the nation to persist in its development efforts despite all challenges.
The Ethiopian herald June 21/2022
