-Middle East countries discern mutual benefits of Abbay dam
ADDIS ABABA – Ethiopia’s exemplary bilateral relations with the Middle East, Asian and Pacific countries are bearing fruits for ensuring country’s national interests, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald MoFA Middle East, Asian and Pacific Countries Affairs Director General Ambassador Gebeyehu Ganga (PhD) stated that Ethiopia developed unique bilateral ties with the Middle East, Asian and Pacific countries which helped to promote national interests including the construction of Abbay Dam for fair utilization of the Nile waters.
The relationship is based on a win-win approach and the countries have no interest to intervene in the internal affairs of others, he said.
He mentioned that Ethiopia has been consolidating bilateral ties with the Middle East countries depending on its geographic location, cultural and religious aspects in addition to mutual interests.
He indicated that Ethiopia’s exemplary partnership with the Middle East countries like Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and other countries has paid off in terms of boosting overseas employment, investment and various partnerships.
Ethiopia has developed amicable ties with the UAE and Saudi Arabia and agreements have been reached to deploy some 500, 000 domestic workers this Ethiopian fiscal year, he added.
Moreover, the Middle East countries accept or understand the fair utilization of the Abbay dam, according to Amb. Gebeyehu.
There is also a strong trade and investment partnership with China, India, Middle East countries as they are market destinations of Ethiopia’s agricultural products specifically vegetables and fruits, he underlined.
According to the Director General, the bilateral relations between Ethiopia and China elevated to all-weather strategic cooperation partnership based on a win-win approach.
Ethiopia also consolidated its relationship with India, Japan, Korea and others in the area of Education, human resource development, investment, technology transfer, trade and investment among others, he stated.
Currently, these countries have been becoming a source of investment and market destination in addition to cooperation in other areas including education, science, health, culture and so on, it was learnt.
BY TSEGAYE TILAHUN
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER 2023
