BY DANIEL ALEMAYEHU
As Ethiopia is one of the oldest civilizations across the globe, the nation has maintained to live peacefully with other nations. Ethiopia has tried to contacting other countries to create peaceful relations since long time ago. A document from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that Ethiopia started diplomatic relation in the time of Emperor Tewodros II date back in mid- nineteenth century. The focus was obtaining strong bond with countries in Western Europe. Besides, the emperor was aware of sharing best scientific and technical supports to achieve the nation’s prosperity.
The kings reigned after Tewodros including Emperor Yohannes IV have carried the relations on because they were very much aware of the value and importance of foreign relations. Again, Emperor Menelik reignited the diplomatic relations with most of European countries.
In the time of Emperor Hailesilassie, the diplomatic relations of the nation was raised up to a modern level as the nation was registered as one of the founding members of the League of Nations in 1923. It was an important cornerstone for the country’s diplomatic history. The nation has even adapted a number of western lifestyle and development.
Ethiopia has also formed fundamental relations with the Arab World since long ago. Documents indicate that the country has economic, historical, and religious ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries namely: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is important to recall that Ethiopia started relation with gulf countries in the seventh century during the period of long distance trade.
Based on a reliable document, there are three core importances that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries need to have relations with Ethiopia. One of the major importances is the nation’s fast- growing economy, and it is the second most populous country in Africa.
Based on the aforementioned points, the country is a potential consumer market for the GCC members to export their commodities like oil. The second is that the nation is the most influential country in the Horn of Africa as the country is a seat of major international organizations including the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).
According to the document, the ties that these GCC member counties form with Ethiopia help them achieve their objectives in the whole Africa. In addition, it is known that GCC member countries are dependent on imported food. In order to ensure their food security, they need to expand their investments such as agriculture abroad.
Lately, the Government of Ethiopia has put itself to the limit to strengthen its ties with the Arab World. In relation to maximizing its potential on sectors that these countries are good at, the Ethiopian Government started developing its friendly relations and sharing the experience these countries acquire.
It is a trend that many relations are based on a kind of give and take principle and mutual relations. When it comes to foreign relations of most African nations, they have been forming a type of relation that can boost their economic power and inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). On the other hand, those countries that provide the FDI need to get equal compensation for their investment, the document disclosed.
Recently, The Ethiopian Herald reported that Dubai Tourism Forum was held and twenty five Dubai companies have shared their experiences to Ethiopian counterpart agents those are working on business and tourism. Director of International Operations for Sub- Saharan Africa at Dubai Department of Tourism, Stella Fubara said on the event that Ethiopians should work on their number of attractions in order to make them accessible to the world and create rooms for market links. This will benefit the nation greatly.
According to the director, the companies that have participated on the forum have extensive experience in tourism, medical, airline, hotel and entertainment industries.
It is real that the world is going at the highest speed to make services modern and up to date. To support the above point, the director mentioned that companies that are working on various fields of tourism with advanced experiences have provided training for one hundred Ethiopian tourism business agents. The provided training will help companies in Ethiopia acquire understandings and the skills that will assist them in creating market links with firms in Dubai. “If Ethiopian companies create a business partnership with the nearby Dubai, they will benefit by any measure,” it was stated.
The director further indicated that Dubai is closer to Ethiopia than any other country. Ethiopians will be benefited if they make their attractions more accessible and open to the world. She disclosed that from African countries, Ethiopians are the second most travelled to Dubai next to Nigeria. She confirmed; “If you turn your trip into a business, you will benefit more.”
On the occasion of presenting the 25 Dubai- based companies that were attending the forum, the director stressed that the goal of the companies that are here to share their experiences is to create business ties with Sub- Saharan African countries.
Apart from exchanging experiences with the Arab world and building business ties, the Government of Ethiopia is working on deepening ties with one of the Arab World countries, Qatar. The two countries are maintaining their relations by putting their hands to support and share what they have. The Government of Qatar has recently funded the construction of specialized Kidney Hospital in Addis Ababa.
Speaking to an international media, Ambassador of Ethiopia to Qatar, Feisel Aliyi disclosed the two countries’ relation is originated in deep- rooted mutual respect, solid historical bonds, and shared interests regarding various platforms. The investment atmosphere in Ethiopia could be desirable destination for the investors and tourists from Qatar. As to the Ambassador, the two countries have signed around 13 agreements. From those signed agreements, some of them are in the pipeline and some are operational.
“Qatar is a country I know, and there are areas both countries can cooperate and capitalize to our benefit. We have political consultation every two years, which reviews engagements in economy, politics, social and other areas of cooperation and solicits for further engagement,” Ambassador Feisel noted.
Emphasizing and strengthening the bilateral and multilateral cooperation and agreements coupled with people- to- people relations of the two nations are priorities. The Ethiopian economy is very much open and favorable to foreign investments. The launching of the Dire Dawa Free Trade Zone could be an example for the effort that the Government of Ethiopia is exerting, according to Ambassador Feisel.
The Ambassador has called up on Qatari investors to show their interest and take the opportunity to invest in tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and technology fields in Ethiopia. The Ambassador also mentioned that Ethiopia has opened its doors for foreign finance sector.
It was learnt that the two countries have showed their utmost interest in working together regarding developing their markets in tourism. The two big companies Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways provide travel options for travellers, and this will strengthen the home grown economy by making it competent to absorb the incoming investment.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2022
