ADDIS ABABA – Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Desalegn, will receive Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun disclosed the Embassy of Japan in Addis in a press release sent to The Ethiopian Herald. The Embassy reported that the decoration is awarded in recognition of his outstanding contribution towards strengthening the bilateral relationship between Japan and Ethiopia, as well as collaborating with Japan on Tokyo International Conference of Africa’s Development (TICAD) and promoting Japan’s friendship with Africa.
“On May 21, 2019, the Government of Japan announced that foreign recipients of the 2019 Spring Imperial Decorations., the former Prime Minister of Ethiopia is among this year’s foreign recipients,” the Embassy remarked. The Embassy explained that in appreciation of Japan’s contribution to peace and stability in Africa (dispatch of personnel to UN peacekeeping operations as well as assisting PKO training centers), former PM H.E. Hailemariam supported Japan’s position on multilateral issues and collaborated with the country.
As the IGAD chair and a UN Security Council member, Ethiopia built and strengthened its cooperation with Japan’s efforts toward South Sudan’s stabilization. The former Prime Minister also chaired successive Japan-Ethiopia Industrial Policy Dialogues and introduced the Kaizen philosophy into Ethiopia. He also promoted Japan’s private sector investment into the country, it was learnt.
The Ethiopian Herald May 22/ 2019
BY ABDUREZAK MOHAMMED
